Chemical Forums

Specialty Chemistry Forums => Citizen Chemist => Topic started by: pcm81 on April 25, 2019, 08:22:04 PM

Title: How do you divide the glassware?
Post by: pcm81 on April 25, 2019, 08:22:04 PM
So, i have a set of glassware that i use for random acid base titration acid-dissolution stuff. Electroless nickel, phosphating, organic chem stuff. I clean this set with Pirana solution once in a while but usually water does it; because most chemicals are water +soap soluble.
Recently I needed to measure out and mix up some nicotine eliquid (for vaping; trying to get my friend to quit smoking). I used fresh glassware for that; but the act got me thinking about "sets of glassware" and how many i should have. Naturally i would not use glassware from EN bath mixing to create food related stuff but then can glass ware used to mix up vape juice be used for things in the kitchen? Can glassware from EN bath and other chem stuff be used for mixing vape juice? So, it seems like i've gone from 2 categories of glass ware (chemistry and edibles) to 3 groups (chemistry; edibles and vaping). What are other "big categories" to consider? Just trying to set up "groups of tools" (funnels, beurettes etc) to avoid problems. For example i was tempted to mix up the eliquid for vaping using my 50ml beurette, but i ended up using fresh 5ml pipet 20 times over, because i've used the beurette for KMnO4 titrations and am trying to keep "chemicals" properly separated from "consumables". I'd like to be able to use "cleaning method" for each category and then have zero worries about issues. Naturally, soap wand water, are cleaning solutions for food stuff, Pirahna solution for organic stuff, but it gets me wondering about "cleaning solutions" for misc categories. For example can i use pirana solution for glassware i use for vape eliquid glassware? Oxalic acid? Phosphoric acid?  If i can use such acids to clean nicotine/vape related glassware, can i use the same set of glaaware for other acid/base reactions? What about acid base reactions involving metallic salts... I mean if i use phosphoric acid to clean glassware, why not use it for iron phosphate titration? How do i break up the world of chemicals and cleaners into manageable sections?
Title: Re: How do you divide the glassware?
Post by: chenbeier on April 26, 2019, 05:29:24 AM
It is by law a no go to use any glass ware for chemical application, what you also use for food and drinks, it doesnt matter how it is cleaned or not. Also a dishwasher for glass ware used in a chem lab is not allowed to clean the coffee cups and dishes for dinner in there.
Title: Re: How do you divide the glassware?
Post by: pcm81 on April 26, 2019, 09:01:32 AM
It is by law a no go to use any glass ware for chemical application, what you also use for food and drinks, it doesnt matter how it is cleaned or not. Also a dishwasher for glass ware used in a chem lab is not allowed to clean the coffee cups and dishes for dinner in there.

Yeah, I get that part. The food vs harsh chemicals answer is easy. I am more interested in additional categories like I described with nicotine and ejuic.
On related note, not all chemicals are the same. Let's face it, drain opener is 50% or more sulfuric acid. So if I had sulfuric acid in glassware it's should be totally ok to wash it in the sink. NOW, if I dissolved some mental in that acid, well that's a different story. So this brings me back to question about categories of glassware and chemicals.