Ace the ACS Lab Crash Course 2025 – Safety Savvy Awaits!

When performing extraction, equipment becoming pressurized is a notable safety concern due to the nature of many extraction processes, which often involve the use of heat and volatile solvents. As solvents are heated, they can vaporize and increase the pressure within closed systems, such as reflux setups or when employing vacuum filtration methods. If this pressure is not properly managed, it can lead to equipment failure, potentially resulting in spills, splashes, or even explosions.

Managing pressure in an extraction setup is crucial. This can involve using appropriate pressure relief valves, allowing for venting, or ensuring that equipment is designed to withstand the pressures generated during the process. Safety measures, such as using properly rated glassware and ensuring all seals and connections are secure, are essential practices in preventing such hazardous situations.

While other options point to various safety concerns in the laboratory, they are not as directly linked to the inherent risks involved in conducting extractions compared to the possibility of equipment becoming pressurized. For example, glassware cracking can indeed pose a risk, but it is more of a secondary consequence of thermal stress rather than a primary concern specific to the extraction process. Excessive use of solvents could raise issues of environmental safety or waste management but does not address immediate physical safety hazards like pressure.