Professional Documents
Culture Documents
_______________________________________________________ _
Read the EH&S Standard Operating Procedures Fact Sheet before filling out this form. Print out the completed form and keep a readily accessible hard copy in the lab (also keeping an electronic copy is highly recommended).
______________________________________________________
Date: SOP Title: Principal Investigator: Room and Building: Lab Phone Number: November 12, 2010 Aqua Regia (Nitro-Hydrochloric Acid) Richmond Sarpong 836 Latimer Hall (510) 643-2485
Section 1 Process
Aqua regia is a corrosive, fuming yellow liquid prepared by slow mixing of one volume of concentrated nitric acid with three volumes of concentrated hydrochloric acid. It is used to dissolve metals such as gold, platinum, silver, etc. Its fumes and yellow color are caused by reaction of nitric acid, HNO3, with hydrogen chloride, HCl, to form nitrosyl chloride (NOCl), chlorine (Cl2), and water; both chlorine and nitrosyl chloride are yellow-colored and volatile.
corrosive and may result in an explosion, skin burns, or eye/respiratory tract irritation if not handled properly.
First Aid measures: Inhalation Move the exposed person to fresh air at once. Perform artificial respiration if breathing has stopped. Keep the affected person warm and at rest. Get prompt medical attention. When unconscious, loosen tight clothing and position in secured recovery position. Ingestion NEVER MAKE AN UNCONSCIOUS PERSON VOMIT OR DRINK FLUIDS! Promptly get affected personnel to drink large volumes of water to dilute the swallowed chemical. DO NOT induce vomiting. Get medical attention immediately. Skin Wash off promptly and flush contaminated skin with water. Promptly remove clothing if soaked through and flush skin with water. Get medical attention if irritation persists after washing. Eyes Promptly wash eyes with plenty of water while lifting the eye lids. Continue to rinse for at least 15 minutes and get medical attention.
(pH must be between 5 and 11 for waste pickup or drain disposal.) 8. Allow solution to cool to room temperature before moving the container, capping the container, or transferring the solution. Disposal: After the solution has cooled to room temperature, submit waste to OESO unless approved for drain disposal. (Approval for drain disposal will depend on what is dissolved in the aqua regia.) Rinse all flasks three times with hexanes and quench all washes.
Section 11 - Decontamination
Remove all contaminated clothing, wash all contaminated skin with copious amounts of water.
Training Documentation
Name (Printed) Signature Date