Read our standard health & safety guidance
Opening ampoules
Wear heavy duty, chemically resistant (e.g. nitrile) gloves, Do NOT use disposable plastic gloves (refer to CLEAPSS Guidance leaflet PS50).
Wear suitable eye protection.
Use a fume cupboard.
Do not handle the ampoules for longer than necessary (heat from the hand will build up pressure).
Make a scratch on the neck of the ampoule with a good glass knife and snap off the neck. For many purposes, the ampoule may be crushed where it is required.
Bromine water
Wear heavy duty, chemically resistant (e.g. nitrile) gloves, Do NOT use disposable plastic gloves (refer to CLEAPSS Guidance leaflet PS50).
Wear suitable eye protection.
Work in a fume cupboard.
Add 0.5 ml of bromine to 100 ml of water. Or crush an ampoule under 200 ml of water and decant the liquid into a bottle. Refer to CLEAPSS Hazcard 15B for alternative method.
Bromine is VERY TOXIC, CORROSIVE and a Danger to the environment – refer to CLEAPSS Hazcards 15A and 15B and CLEAPSS Recipe Card 28.
Wherever bromine liquid is used or stored, have 500 ml of 1 mol dm–3 (25 %) solution of sodium thiosulfate to hand. See CLEAPSS Hazcard 15A.
Health and safety checked, November 2007
Updated 3 Dec 2007
