A common experiment for the lower years of a chemistry course is the dehydration and rehydration of copper sulphate. While not the most challenging of procedures, it is used to familiarise students with the basic safety precautions of bunsens and testtubes. The theory is simple enough: Heat hydrated copper sulphate, and you get ahydrous copper sulphate and some water that boils away. Add water, and you get hydrated copper sulphate again.

One student, as the chemistry teacher explains, could not resist a more hands-on approach - rather than apply the water very carefully to the testtube, he applied the contents of the water to his fingertip - and licked it.

Copper sulphate is poisonous, but not in that small quantity. It is carcinogenic, but that will not kill immediately. Ahydrous copper sulphate though will react exothermicly with water - and students were warned to point the testtubes away from anyone as they rehydrated due to the potential to spit boiling water.

The student suffered a burnt tongue, but no further injury. It is fortunate for him - though not for the gene pool - that his choice of chemical for the taste-test was not more dangerous. The concentrated hydrochloric acid used for cleaning wires in the flame test demonstration comes to mind...

Submitted on 12/30/2006

Submitted by: James Roots
Reference: Pure rumor

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Maybe Toss: Lacks Excellence
As this is "pure rumor", I can't even list it as a Personal Account! As it is, high school kids do stupid things in science class, and this isn't quite severe enough to set off the Darwinometer! Thanks just the same for submitting, James, we DO appreciate it!

Graham said:
Neutral: No Self-Selection
He can count his lucky stars they weren't mixing acids! Skylarking like this has been the cause of many burns, blindings and lost limbs over the years. Kids will be kids it seems.

Jack said:
Neutral: Personal Account

Chip said:
Maybe Toss: Other
Rumor, no danger of immediate removal from the gene pool. Thanks for sending it though James.

Darwin said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
This is fairly interesting, I like it.

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