What are fume hoods primarily used for in the laboratory?

Fume hoods are primarily designed to handle toxic or volatile substances safely. They provide a controlled environment by effectively ventilating harmful vapors, gases, and aerosols that are often released during chemical reactions or handling materials that can be hazardous. The airflow in a fume hood helps to prevent these substances from escaping into the laboratory space, thus protecting personnel from inhalation exposure and reducing the risk of accidents.

While it may seem practical to store toxic materials safely or conduct reactions involving heat within a fume hood, these applications do not fully capture the primary function of fume hoods. Storing bad chemicals typically takes place in designated storage areas, and while some fume hoods can accommodate reactions involving heat, their main safety feature is their ability to handle chemicals that might emit dangerous fumes. Additionally, although fume hoods can contribute to providing a cleaner workspace by containing harmful substances, their critical purpose revolves around ensuring safety when working with toxic or volatile materials.