But it doesn't have to be that way. The demonic forces of creation can and do co-exist with reasonable precautions to see that printmakers have a long and healthy life. The main hazards in photogravure etching and related techniques are strong acids and alkalis , organic solvents , dusts and powders , dichromates , and ultraviolet light . Strong acids react vigorously with almost anything they touch, including skin, eyes, lungs, and internal organs. During the etching process, flammable hydrogen gas is also produced.
Potassium chlorate is a key ingredient in many pyrotechnics, and is a potent oxidizing agent.
It can react explosively with organic compounds, sulfur compounds, sulfuric acid or even dirt or clothing. On heating it can violently decompose to oxygen and potassium chloride. Storage and use are very dangerous and require special precautions especially when mixing. The 19 th -century practitioners of photogravure introduced ferric chloride as an etchant. Because of its unique ability to seep through a permeable gelatin resist very gradually, ferric chloride was found to be ideal for the variable depth of etching required in photogravure.