When the separatory funnel is placed in a ring stand, always place a beaker below the separatory funnel to catch solutions that leak or spill.
Always firmly hold the stopper when shaking and regularly vent the funnel by opening the stopcock. Gloves are recommended.
Always protect yourself and your neighbor from unexpected chemical splashes. Pressure may build in the funnel during mixing, therefore chemicals may violently be expelled from the funnel.
Always remove the stopper when the funnel is stored in the ring stand.
