When Things Go Wrong in the Lab
Originally we planned to include fun, one-minute science experiments on video as part of PBS NewsHour's STEM teacher series. But even with the best planning, experiments can give you unexpected results, said Jamie Munkatchy, chemistry teacher at Validus Preparatory Academy in the Bronx, New York. 

Here's how a chemistry "magic trick" turned out.

While the experiment didn't go as planned, it was a teachable moment, Munkatchy said. Once the flames were out, she and I examined my charred twenty dollar bill. One edge wasn't submerged in the water, she determined, so the flame continued to smolder. 

Chemistry labs are full of potential hazards -- corrosive acids and bases, potentially dangerous chemical reactions and, most importantly, fire. Safety precautions are crucial, like wearing goggles and keeping fire hazards like long hair, sleeves or headdresses out of the way. 

You can't be afraid of the fire in a chemistry lab, Jamie Munkatchy explained to her students during their lesson on distilling biofuel. If something catches fire, panicking will only make the problem worse, she told them. 

Experiments don't always go as planned. Mistakes and accidents happen; you just have to address the problem and learn from the result, Munkatchy said.
The video shows a teacher in a science classroom demonstrating a flammable liquid experiment. The danger lies in the use of an open flame and flammable alcohol solution. While the teacher is wearing safety glasses for eye protection, she's using a set of tongs to hold the $20 bill soaked in the solution, which is not a sufficient safety measure for handling flammable substances. The tongs could heat up, transferring heat to her hand, or the bill could detach from the tongs, potentially spreading burning alcohol. Several people, including the teacher and students in the classroom, are potentially affected by the experiment. While the video doesn't show any immediate injuries, the potential aftermath includes burns from splashing alcohol, or even a fire if the experiment goes wrong and ignites nearby flammable materials. The experiment highlights the need for a safer approach, including a fire-resistant container to catch drips, a longer tool to maintain distance from the flame, and a fire extinguisher readily available in case of accidental ignition.