Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 07:16:34 EDT
Reply-To: Labsafe**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Jim Kaufman <Labsafe**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Recent Lab Explosion
Comments: cc: labsafety-l**At_Symbol_Here**siu.edu
In a message dated 7/11/2005 12:02:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU writes:

> I fail to see how gaseous HF can react with steel to produce an excessive
> hydrogen pressure and burst a cylinder:
>                       6HF + 2Fe yields 2FeF3 + 3H2
> The product would be FeF3, not FeF2, because fluorine is an excellent
> oxidizing agent.  Consequently, if anything, the gas pressure inside the
> cylinder would necessarily be reduced as the HF attacks the iron of the
> cylinder.
>
> It's obvious that the cause of the explosion was the thinning of the
> cylinder wall at one or more locations, NOT the pressure of the hydrogen.
>
> Jay Young

Hey Older (oldest?) Guy,

If Fluorine is such a good oxidizer why doesn't it oxidize iron to the more
oxidized state (+3) just as peroxides do when you kill them with +2 iron
(ferrous sulfate) to make ferric sulfate and reduced peroxides?  Why do you believe
that it will stop at the +2 state?

Not quite as old but working on it ... slowly.

James A. Kaufman, Ph.D.
President/CEO
jimkaufman**At_Symbol_Here**labsafety.org

The Laboratory Safety Institute
A Nonprofit International Organization for
Safety in Science and Science Education

192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760-2252
508-647-1900  Fax: 508-647-0062
Cell: 508-574-6264   Res: 781-237-1335
info**At_Symbol_Here**labsafety.org   www.labsafety.org

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.