American Chemical Society (ACS) Laboratory Safety Practice Test

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Prepare for the American Chemical Society Laboratory Safety Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Get ready for success!

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Why can cleaning glassware be considered a safety issue?

  1. It can produce chemical reactions

  2. It can lead to breaks and spills

  3. It requires specialized cleaning solutions

  4. It involves high temperatures

The correct answer is: It can lead to breaks and spills

Cleaning glassware can indeed be considered a safety issue primarily because it can lead to breaks and spills. When handling glassware, there is always the potential for it to become fragile, especially if it has been subjected to high temperatures or physical stress. If glassware breaks while cleaning, it can create sharp shards, posing a risk of cuts and lacerations. Additionally, if the glassware contains any residual chemicals, spills can occur and lead to dangerous chemical exposure or reactions. While the other options may relate to specific situations in the lab, they don't directly address the general safety risks associated with the routine task of cleaning glassware. For instance, producing chemical reactions is more contextual and would depend on the specific residues present in the glassware. Similarly, specialized cleaning solutions may indeed be necessary for certain types of glassware but do not inherently represent a safety issue in the same way that physical breakage and spills do. High temperatures could apply in limited scenarios, but again, the core safety concern during cleaning remains the risk of breakage and resultant spills or injuries.