There are obviously risks associated with amateur chemistry, but these risks do not have to be any greater than those that come with the pursuit of many other hobbies.Here are some safety points that I follow:
I learn as much as I can about the experiment I wish to perform. I read about all the chemicals I will use and about the properties of any of their potential derivatives.
When performing an experiment for the first time, I use very small quantities of material. With such picayune amounts, I most likely am not able to extract my final product but instead I content myself with just looking for signs that reaction has occurred. Armed with new intimate knowledge of the behavior of the reaction, I then proceed to a second experiment in which I use enough chemicals to get an actual yield. Finally, I perform additional experiments if I need to make a relatively large amount of a substance for use in other experiments.
I keep hazardous chemicals that come in large bottles separate from my main stock of chemicals. I pour some of these chemicals into smaller containers and this is where I draw from these chemicals before using them in an experiment. These smaller containers are much easier to control and hence limit spilling.
I do not work with chemicals that are especially toxic. For example, I generally shy away from mercury, lead, and barium compounds.
I do not work with highly radioactive chemicals.
I do not work with or synthesis explosives or otherwise energetically unstable analogs.
I try to perform experiments only when I know I will have enough time to complete them. Haste has broken a lot of my glassware.
I always wear safety goggles and for most experiments, nitrile gloves.
I keep two fire extinguishers by my side- a small standard powder extinguishers and a large rechargeable air-powered water extinguisher.
I also keep a bucket of sand nearby. Sand effectively smothers almost any small fire.
