Whoosh Bottle Safety, Again: What About What Is Inside?

CHEMISTRY experiments; SCIENTIFIC experimentation; COMBUSTION; ISOPROPYL alcohol; COMBUSTION products; POLYCYCLIC aromatic hydrocarbons synthesis; ORGANIC synthesis; HAZARDOUS waste management; TOXIC substance exposure; EDUCATION; SAFETY

The article focuses on safety aspects of the whoosh bottle combustion experiment commonly used in chemistry education. Particular emphasis is given to the production of hazardous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organic compounds such as naphthalene, anthracene, and phenol by the combustion reaction of 2-propanol. It is suggested that chemicals produced by the experiment indicate the necessity of toxic exposure precautions and hazardous waste disposal measures for the demonstration.