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Chemistry Forums for Students => Analytical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Blondie on February 05, 2008, 11:34:24 AM

Title: common laboratory contaminants
Post by: Blondie on February 05, 2008, 11:34:24 AM

Does anyone have a list of common laboratory contaminants?

Title: Re: common laboratory contaminants
Post by: sjb on February 05, 2008, 01:02:49 PM

Quote from: Blondie on February 05, 2008, 11:34:24 AM

Does anyone have a list of common laboratory contaminants?

"Blood, oil (sic), tears, and sweat" (with apologies to Churchill).

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Depends on what you're doing. Typically in organic synthesis you may get some leaching of plasticizers from tubing or grease into a pot if you heat too much. Some things go off in air (or more usually specifically moisture or oxygen in the air).

Title: Re: common laboratory contaminants
Post by: Blondie on February 05, 2008, 02:51:48 PM

I am glad you couldn't resist.  I needed a laugh.

I suppose I should have been more specific....In commercial laboratories there are sometimes laboratory contaminants introduced, such as acetone.  I am looking for a list of the common contaminants...

Title: Re: common laboratory contaminants
Post by: umpteenth on February 06, 2008, 11:48:38 PM

here is a list of common NMR contaminants. It should work for youtoo. http://astro.temple.edu/~debrosse/NMRsolvents.pdf

Title: Re: common laboratory contaminants
Post by: Blondie on February 07, 2008, 02:51:09 PM

Perfect!  Thanks so much.