Explosion at UMd. building injures students

An explosion at a University of Maryland chemistry building left two students injured with chemical burns. The explosion occurred during a chemistry class, when nitric acid and sulfuric acid came into contact and triggered a “violent chemical reaction.” The students handling the chemicals at the time sustained first- and second-degree chemical burns and lacerations from glass containers.

Students and employees were evacuated and decontaminated after the incident. The chemistry building was reopened, though the lab where the explosion took place remains closed.