Chemistry accident at US high school prompts changes

Methanol-fireC0119139300tb

After a chemistry demonstration sparks a fire that injures six, a county in Virginia halts use of open flames in science classes

A chemical experiment gone wrong has caused serious injuries to five students and their chemistry teacher at a suburban Washington DC, US high school. The accident on 30 October has led to some immediate policy changes.

A fire was reportedly sparked by the ‘rainbow’ demonstration that shows how different metals produce flames in different colours when mixed with flammable solvents like methanol.

In response to three such accidents over an eight-week period in 2014 that injured children and adults, the CSB issued a safety bulletin highlighting key lessons for preventing such incidents. The board also released a safety message featuring a young woman who was burned over 40% of her body during a similar chemistry demonstration at her high school back in 2006. 

Rebecca Trager reports

Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor. 

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more:

  • unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
  • teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
  • applications for funding to support your lessons

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.