Bucks professors have
reported that stocks of various
chemicals in the college chemistry
laboratory are being
depleted at a rapid rate.
“I’ve always stressed to my
students to take only the
amount of chemicals needed
for an experiment, and nothing
more,” says Professor Michelle
Hoch. “These substances are
not cheap.”
Students from all classes that
use the Founders Hall lab
agree that they and their classmates
take no excess chemicals
during experiments. “If
we’re going to be professional
chemists one day, we can’t be
draining research funds with
wasted chemicals,” says Sam
Horton, 19, chemistry major
from Fairless Hills.
Students report that chemicals
are stored in oversized
jars, either at the front of the
lab or under the fume hood,
which drafts away harmful
vapors from volatile compounds.
“The reactants are very carefully
guarded,” says Maria
Romano, 20, biology major
from Newtown. “In fact,
insanely so. I don’t see why
this is necessary, being as the
only people allowed in the lab
are current science students.”
Chemicals stored in the lab
include potassium permanganate,
magnesium sulfate,
ethanol, and hydrochloric acid.
These and other substances can
stain and dissolve textiles, burn
the eyes and skin, and cause
dangerous physical health
problems if accidentally consumed.
“Over the past few weeks,
I’ve noticed the quick decline
of our stores,” says Bucks
chemistry Professor Dr. Ron
Butler, “Particularly the
ethanol.”
However, students and professors
have yet to witness any
pilfering taking place.
And now more than ever, professors
are vigilantly locking
the door to lab when it is not in
use. Bucks Campus Security
reports that every key of which
they have made duplicates is
accounted for.
“Each evening, I am the last
one up here,” says Professor
Hoch. “Nobody else is around
when I close up; I make sure of
that.” But quite consistently,
the professors find, there are
chemicals missing the next
morning.
Bucks cleaning staff, however,
might have found a clue.
“Usually the lab is impeccable
in the morning, because science
students are very good at
cleaning up their lab space,”
says Jim Stephens. “But
recently, I have found napkins,
crumbs, and even candy wrappers
lying about. I don’t suppose
it’s very safe to eat around
all these toxic chemicals.”
Basic laboratory safety
measures forbid the consumption
of food in the lab. So it
appears that the lab is being
broken into while classes are
not in session. Security is considering
a correlation between
the break-ins and the missing
chemicals.
“Ethanol is just a fancy name
for grain alcohol,” says
Stephens. “In its purest form,
it is 190 proof.”
Security has launched an
investigation as to how the laboratory
is being broken into.
The second floor lab’s window
and door locks show no evidence
of tampering. “It seems
that whoever has been breaking
into the laboratory has
access to a key,” says
Stephens.
Now, professors are eyeing
one another with suspicion.
Their jobs and reputations are
at stake as the ongoing investigation
looks for a scapegoat.
One total mystery remains:
Why are other chemicals in
addition to the ethanol being
taken? Potassium permanganate
temporarily dyes the
skin a brownish color, and
could possibly be used by local
tattoo artists. Magnesium sulfate
is used in the care of magnesium-
hungry plants such as
cannabis, and can also be used
to re-coagulate lava lamps that
have been shaken too much.
Hydrochloric acid can basically
burn its way through anything.
“Our greatest fear is that perpetrators
will accidentally mix
the potassium permanganate
and the hydrochloric acid,
which evolves extremely toxic
chlorine gas,” says Dr. Butler.
“All we can do now is hope
that these criminals actually
paid attention in class.”