Share your lab horror stories.
>be me
>doing doctorate in organic chem
>had a summer research student in the group
>literature has a good reaction (consistent 90% yield), supervisor tells project student to try reaction
>works perfectly
>supervisor suggests he try it on less reactive molecule
>gets fuck all
>suggest leaving for longer and reflux at higher temp
>gets fuck all again
>at this point this madlad had an idea - one of the reagents called for is ammonia 30%
>project dude decides to run reaction hotter and in pure ammonia
>reaction vessel explodes
>one fragment almost cut his throat
>visit the guy in hospital
>multiple stitches but going to be OK
The guy became a legend in the department.
>be me
>doing doctorate in organic chem
>had a summer research student in the group
>literature has a good reaction (consistent 90% yield), supervisor tells project student to try reaction
>works perfectly
>supervisor suggests he try it on less reactive molecule
>gets fuck all
>suggest leaving for longer and reflux at higher temp
>gets fuck all again
>at this point this madlad had an idea - one of the reagents called for is ammonia 30%
>project dude decides to run reaction hotter and in pure ammonia
>reaction vessel explodes
>one fragment almost cut his throat
>visit the guy in hospital
>multiple stitches but going to be OK
The guy became a legend in the department.
