Probably when you think of a hot plate, you more than likely think about something that fills in a small place where you may not have a stove, so that you can cook your food. This is one use for it, but they are used quite often in high schools and college labs for a variety of reasons.
It does not matter where a person might be using it at, safety should be of first concern no matter what. But in a laboratory setting, it becomes even more important that the students learn safety first before using one since a lot of the items they use can be dangerous chemicals.
If using one of these units for a water bath is the purpose, it is important that the student or person realize that the glassware that they work with needs to be fire resistant, borosilicate glassware. It is also important to point out that before the glassware is even used, it should be checked for even the smallest of cracks. Never use a piece of glassware with even the smallest of cracks. Also, it is important too, that the surface of it must be larger than the actual object that is being heated up.
It is also important to know that they should never be used with any type of flammable or combustible material. A person is risking a fire or an explosion should they do such a thing.
It is always a good thing to add stones that are specially made for boiling and add them to what you are trying to boil. This will help facilitate the heating process of whatever is being heated on the hot plate.
Never lose track or concentration on what you are doing when boiling items, it becomes dangerous when a liquid is allowed to boil down. This can cause cracks in the glassware even the hazard of them shattering.
It is very important to remember to never turn it on any setting that is higher than medium to medium high for any reason. This goes for all liquids including water. It is important to know what liquids have a low boiling point so to avoid accidentally heating on too high of a setting. It should be noted that the actual surface temperature of the surface of a hot plate can reach as high as 540 C (1004 F). And that is hot beyond words.
Another thing that should be noted here, is that it is never wise to use aluminum foil or any type of metal pan on the surface of one. Not only can this cause possible electric shock, but it can also lead to damaging the hot plate itself.
When it is time to remove the item from the surface, never use your hands. Tongs or something that has some sort of rubber grips should be used to not just remove the item but to pour it as well.
A hot plate looks exactly the same whether it's been is hot or cold. So, it is important that the person who is using it, lets others know when they have finished and have turned it off. This will alert others that the hot plate may still be hot. They have a tendency to stay hot for a very long time. And it would be quite dangerous if others were not warned beforehand that the plate had just been turned off.
It does not matter where a person might be using it at, safety should be of first concern no matter what. But in a laboratory setting, it becomes even more important that the students learn safety first before using one since a lot of the items they use can be dangerous chemicals.
If using one of these units for a water bath is the purpose, it is important that the student or person realize that the glassware that they work with needs to be fire resistant, borosilicate glassware. It is also important to point out that before the glassware is even used, it should be checked for even the smallest of cracks. Never use a piece of glassware with even the smallest of cracks. Also, it is important too, that the surface of it must be larger than the actual object that is being heated up.
It is also important to know that they should never be used with any type of flammable or combustible material. A person is risking a fire or an explosion should they do such a thing.
It is always a good thing to add stones that are specially made for boiling and add them to what you are trying to boil. This will help facilitate the heating process of whatever is being heated on the hot plate.
Never lose track or concentration on what you are doing when boiling items, it becomes dangerous when a liquid is allowed to boil down. This can cause cracks in the glassware even the hazard of them shattering.
It is very important to remember to never turn it on any setting that is higher than medium to medium high for any reason. This goes for all liquids including water. It is important to know what liquids have a low boiling point so to avoid accidentally heating on too high of a setting. It should be noted that the actual surface temperature of the surface of a hot plate can reach as high as 540 C (1004 F). And that is hot beyond words.
Another thing that should be noted here, is that it is never wise to use aluminum foil or any type of metal pan on the surface of one. Not only can this cause possible electric shock, but it can also lead to damaging the hot plate itself.
When it is time to remove the item from the surface, never use your hands. Tongs or something that has some sort of rubber grips should be used to not just remove the item but to pour it as well.
A hot plate looks exactly the same whether it's been is hot or cold. So, it is important that the person who is using it, lets others know when they have finished and have turned it off. This will alert others that the hot plate may still be hot. They have a tendency to stay hot for a very long time. And it would be quite dangerous if others were not warned beforehand that the plate had just been turned off.
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