How to Wash Out Common Lab Chemicals
Water Soluble Solutions
(e.g., sodium chloride or sucrose solutions) Rinse 3-4 times with deionized water then put the glassware away.
Water Insoluble Solutions
(e.g., solutions in hexane or chloroform) Rinse 2-3 times with ethanol or acetone, rinse 3-4 times with deionized water, then put the glassware away. In some situations other solvents need to be used for the initial rinse.
Strong Acids
(e.g., concentrated HCl or H2SO4) Under the fume hood, carefully rinse the glassware with copious volumes of tap water. Rinse 3-4 times with deionized water, then put the glassware away.
Strong Bases
(e.g., 6M NaOH or concentrated NH4OH) Under the fume hood, carefully rinse the glassware with copious volumes of tap water. Rinse 3-4 times with deionized water, then put the glassware away.
Weak Acids
(e.g., acetic acid solutions or dilutions of strong acids such as 0.1M or 1M HCl or H2SO4) Rinse 3-4 times with deionized water before putting the glassware away.
Weak Bases
(e.g., 0.1M and 1M NaOH and NH4OH) Rinse thoroughly with tap water to remove the base, then rinse 3-4 times with deionized water before putting the glassware away.