Lab safety equipment is used to limit the amount of direct contact with potentially harmful chemicals. The minimum safety equipment includes goggles, a lab coat and closed-toed shoes. Gloves should be used when working with chemical irritants. Long hair must be tied back.
Sodium acetate is an colorless crystal at room temperature. It is stable under normal conditions. However, it is an irritant, so avoid contact with skin and do not ingest it. Should ingestion occur, drink several glasses of water to dilute it. If sodium acetate comes into contact with your skin, flush the area with running water for 15 minutes and remove any contaminated clothing.
A supersaturated solution of sodium acetate can become very hot. Use tongs when handling the beaker. Use lab glass that is resistant to quick temperature changes for this experiment. Simple glass equipment may crack. Work in a fume hood. This hood prevents vapors from contaminating the air you breathe.