2 suffer minor injuries after chemical accident at UM

Two students at the University of Maryland have been injured in a chemistry accident that caused the evacuation of a campus building.

Mark Brady, a spokesman for the Prince George's County fire department, says the two female students had first- and second-degree chemical burns and superficial cuts after the Monday afternoon chemical reaction. They were taken to a burn unit and are in good condition, and two university employees who were decontaminated did not require hospitalization.

The students were doing an experiment with nitric acid and sulfuric acid. The combined product was introduced into a chemical waste container, causing a violent chemical reaction.

Firefighters put out a small fire in and near the laboratory chemical ventilation hood.

The chemistry building was evacuated but given the all-clear later Monday afternoon.