Handling of Air-Sensitive and Moisture-Sensitive Reagents in an Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratory: The Importance of the Syringe

A relatively large number of organic and inorganic chemistry reagents are air- or moisture-sensitive, and undergraduate students should be trained in their use. When handling such reagents, it is important to select the correct syringe and to use that syringe correctly. We have found that the best syringe for use in an undergraduate setting is a fully plastic polypropylene (PP) Luer lock syringe. While generally safe, such a syringe should be treated as a single-use syringe. Repeated exposure to an organic solvent causes progressively more resistance to the movement of the plunger, or its complete freeze. Thus, when drawing in a volume of liquid that is close to the capacity of the syringe, the plunger could be inadvertently pulled out causing a spill.

Automated summary

A fully plastic polypropylene Luer lock syringe is recommended for undergraduate students working with air- or moisture-sensitive reagents in order to avoid resistance to plunger movement or potential spills when drawing liquid close to the syringe's capacity.