New lab users are required to take this saftey quiz. Many of the answers are found on this page.

• There is one fume hood for organic solvents (acetone, ethanol, IPA) and one fume hood for acids. Never bring the organic solvents into the acid hood. Never bring acids into the organic solvent hood. This absolute/unbreakable rule protects us from the risk of accidentally mixing an oxidizing agent (e.g. H2SO4) with a hydrocarbon fuel (e.g. acetone).
• Take labeling very seriously. There should never be unlabeled liquid in a fume hood, even for a second. It is very hard to identify a chemical when it has been forgotten (it only takes a second to mix up two beakers). This rule protects our devices, protects us from accidentally mixing the wrong chemicals and protects us from treating dangerous chemicals as if they were safe.
• Before using a chemical for the first time, read the MSDS. In the lab there is a folder of MSDS sheets (they are shipped with the chemical, save the MSDS when you open a box!). If the MSDS is not in the folder go to the manufacture website. If you still can't find it, try an online database.
• We do not use HF (hydrofluroic acid) in our lab. If you need HF for etching silicon oxide, use the clean room in Owen Hall. HF is the most dangerous acid used at the university. Anyone using HF should seek additional training.

• Safety goggles
• Nitrile gloves

Acetone, Ethanol and Isopropanol are all organic solvents. They are collected together in the plastic storage container labeled “organic waste”. Chlorinated solvents such as DCE are collected in a separate waste bottle because chlorinated solvents require more careful disposal by environmental health and safety.

There are no exceptions to this rule: Never do acid work if you are the only person in the room. You have to have a buddy in the lab. The buddy can be doing something else, but can't leave until you dispose the acid.

• Goggles with a face mask over the goggles
• A rubber apron draped over your front
• Trousers and closed top shoes
• The thin nitrile gloves with the heavier longer gloves over them. The gloves are unlikely to dissolve in the acid, but if the gloves are thin they are prone to tearing allowing acid to attack your hands through an unnoticed hole.

After pouring acid it is a good idea to clean off the bottle with wet towel. This prevents an unsuspecting person from burning themselves if they touch the bottle.

When diluting acid, add the acid to the water. Do NOT add water to the acid. If water is poured into concentrated acid, it may react very quickly causing the acid to bubble or boil. This may cause acid to be sprayed over the working area. If acid is added to water, the reaction is dispersed, and if there is a violent reaction it will spray water or dilute acid.

If you spill acid on yourself take off your gear and clothes and rinse off. There is an eye wash by the sink on the opposite side of the room of the acid fume hood. It is on a hose and can be pulled out if you need to rinse off your body and not just your eyes. Do not be shy about removing your clothes or getting water on the floor. It is better that getting an acid burn.

To clean a silicon chip first set up three beakers, one with pure (fuming) nitric acid, and two with rinse water. It is a good idea to use as little acid as possible to minimize the amount of acid you have to dispose of. Place the chip in the nitric acid and let it sit in the beaker for 1 minute. After a minute has passed remove the chip with a pair of metal tweezers and place the chip in the first rinse beaker. After a short time move the chip to the second beaker, then take it out and blow it dry with nitrogen. We use two rinse beakers because the acid is very strong and the residual acid on the chip is enough to make the water in the first beaker acidic.

To dispose of HCl, H2SO4 or HNO3 acids first neutralize and then pour down the drain.

To neutralize the acid first dilute the acid into a larger volume of water. Then slowly add Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) until the mixture stops bubbling. We first dilute the acid to make the rate of reaction more predictable. Also make sure to use a relatively large beaker to prevent the solution from bubbling over.

If you used a paper towel throw it away into the acid waste bin under the fume hood. If you feel you got a large amount of acid on the towel you can dunk it in a solution of sodium bicarbonate and water before throwing it away.

Environmental Health and Safety requires us to maintain an inventory of all our chemicals at the following website http://oregonstate.edu/ehs/inventory.php. The login and password can be found on the group T: drive.

Moldatherm Insulation

1. Description: White, chalky ceramic insulator in the CVD.
2. Health hazard: Avoid breathing the dust, or contact with skin, eyes, and mouth. Full toxicology is only preliminary, but prolonged respiratory exposure has led to cancer in test animals. At temperatures above 980 C, Moldatherm can partially convert into cristobalite. OSHA limits exposure to cristobalite to 0.05 mg/m^3 of respirable dust. No limit has yet been set for breathing Moldatherm dust.
3. Safety precautions: Use gloves whenever operating the CVD or handling the quartz tubing. Do not touch skin or wipe eyes until after washing hands. If heated above 980 C, a respiratory filter is recommended while in use.