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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.