So I just did the dumbest thing today. I'm usually a ditz in my chemistry lab class, but today was an exceptionally bad day. I don't know if I'm just really absent minded or what, but I always manage to screw everything up. If it weren't for my lab partner, I have no idea how I would do the procedures.
Here is a summary of my screw-ups today.
1. I set up the assignment
backwards and started the reaction without realizing it. We had to start over again.
2. I poured water all down the front of me.
3. This one is the kicker and my absolute worst one yet.
I dumped about 10mL 9M hydrochloric acid onto the floor by mistake. At 9M this is
very concentrated and essentially approx
30% of the solution is hydrocloric acid (and has a pH of approx -1 -- highly acidic). This is probably the highest concentration we've used so far. But that isn't it. I didn't spill it because someone bumped into me or my hand slipped. No. The acid was sitting in a buret (think tall, skinny container) we were using.
I picked up the buret and dumped it over my shoulder (but I don't think it got on me) onto the floor because I forgot it still had liquid in it. Yeah, that's right. I essentially just
threw it on the floor like an idiot. And guess what? I was terrified of getting in trouble (the professor is not the most understanding), so I just wiped it up with paper towels because no one noticed what I did. I did tell my lab partner, though. She must think I am retarded!
![Cutesy Tongue :alttongue: :alttongue:](/data/vbsmilies/alttongue.gif)
I used my shoes to move the paper towels around and when I bent down to pick them up, the smell burned my nose. I was freaking out a good while after, afraid it would burn my shoes or something, but I'm calm now. In the back of my mind, I'm still afraid someone will find out and I'll get punished. I have no idea if that stuff will do anything to the floor or someone else's shoes. Not to mention the smell will likely be noticed if someone leans near the floor.
Seriously, I have no idea why the hell I do stuff like this.