Four West Virginia University students suffered chemical burns around 11 a.m. today (Jan. 25) while conducting an experiment in a Clark Hall chemistry lab as part of a scheduled, supervised class, officials said. The students were splashed with concentrated sulfuric acid while dispensing the chemical.

Two of the students received blisters to the face and neck while two others had minor burns.

The four were treated on the scene with water and given showers in a nearby labthe appropriate initial responsebefore being taken to the hospital by EMS .

The students were wearing safety goggles, gloves and lab coats at the time, said Harry Finklea, Chair of the WVU Department of Chemistry.

Accidents like this are very rare,Finklea noted.Nothing of this nature has occurred, to my knowledge, in recent years, and Im happy to say our lab staff is trained in emergency response and reacted very quickly.

Luckily, there were no life threatening injuries, he added, and officials will continue to monitor the studentsrecovery.

The students were part of Chemistry 116, a second semester general chemistry class. Approximately 24 students were in the room at the time along with a teaching assistant. All had previously received safety training.

Several labs on the second floor of Clark Hall were disrupted for a short time while the students were being treated. Classes resumed a short time later.

Morgantown Fire, EMS , WVU DPS , WVU Environmental Health and Safety and Student Life officials responded to the scene.

Cause of the accident remains under investigation by WVU chemistry and safety officials.