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Chemistry vocabulary · Laboratory Safety

Spill

Meaning in chemistry, with examples

nounCommon term

In chemistry, spill means: An accident in which a chemical is dropped or leaks out of its container. As a verb, the word means to let a liquid or powder fall out by accident.

In Turkish: dökülme, kimyasal dökülme, döküntü

How it is used

Part of every lab safety plan. You report, contain, absorb and clean up a spill with a spill kit; trained staff handle small spills, and a large one may mean leaving the lab. The past tense is 'spilled' (US) or 'spilt' (UK).

Example sentences

  1. If there is an acid spill, cover it with neutralizer from the spill kit.

  2. I spilled some ethanol on the bench; can you pass me the paper towels?

Common collocations

  • spill kit
  • clean up a spill
  • report a spill
  • chemical spill
  • contain a spill
  • chemical wasteUnwanted chemicals and materials contaminated with them, such as used solvents, reaction residues and dirty gloves, that must be collected and disposed of safely.
  • PPEShort for personal protective equipment: the items you wear to protect yourself from hazards in the lab, such as a lab coat, safety goggles and gloves.
  • corrosiveDescribes a substance that can destroy or badly damage skin, eyes, metals or other materials on contact. Concentrated acids and strong bases are typical examples.
  • fume hoodA ventilated cabinet with a sliding glass front that draws fumes away from the user. Work with volatile, toxic or strong-smelling chemicals is done inside it.
  • neutralizationThe reaction between an acid and a base that produces a salt and water and brings the pH closer to 7.

More terms: Laboratory Safety

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