Chem 12 Pre-lab Report

Group Name: Spermions

Members: Blancaflor, Kametchi Anne; Naragdao, Ron Gerlan; and Silfavan, Mae Dell

Experiment no. 1
(Common Laboratory Techniques and Operations)

Introduction

As what Lubran (1973) stated, “perfect accuracy implies perfect precision”, we can
see that accurate measurements are important in the field of Chemistry. To get the exact
measurements in equipment used, one should be knowledgeable about the most used
laboratory techniques and operations. Skills including the mastery of lab techniques are
important to set a safe and competent working environment (“Your Practical Guide to Basic
Laboratory Techniques Basic laboratory”, 2018).

Laboratory Balance

Basic Laboratory Techniques (n.d.) stated that there are two types of balances
depending on the desired accuracy: top-loading and analytical balances. According to the
study, top-loading balance is suitable for weighings that require ± 1 mg and also requires two
or three significant figures. Analytical balance, on the other hand, is appropriate for ± 0.1
mg accuracy and when you need four or more significant figures.
Things to remember when using the balance (Basic Laboratory Techniques, n.d.):
1. When using the balance, we should ensure that the beam is horizontal.
2. Before weighing, we should check and adjust the pointer at zero point using
the screws provided on both sides of the beam.

Pipette

There are two types of pipettes: volumetric and measuring. Volumetric pipettes are
designed to transfer small volume and predetermined volume of liquid while measuring
pipettes have adjustable calibrations. However, measuring pipettes are only useful in large
volume of liquid. (Your Practical Guide to Basic Laboratory Techniques Basic laboratory,
2018).

In one of the articles written by May (2018), one should always keep in mind the
pipetting guidelines no matter how expert the person is in order for the experiment to be
successful .

Techniques using an air-displacement pipette (May, 2018):

1. Set the volume on the pipette.

2. Depress the plunger.
3. Immerse the tip to the correct depth, which can vary by the pipette and tip, and
smoothly let the plunger go to its resting position.
 4. Wait about one second for the liquid to flow into the tip.
5. Put the pipette—held at 10–45 degrees—against the wall of the receiving chamber,
and smoothly depress the plunger to the first stop.
6. Wait one second and then depress the plunger to the second stop.
7. Slide the tip up the vessel wall to remove the pipette.
8. Allow the plunger to return to its rest position.

Table 1. Equipment Accuracy of laboratory balances and pipette (Hajjaji, 2015)

Equipment Accuracy

Analytical Balance ±0.0001 g

Top-loading Balance ±0.001 g

Pipette ±0.02 mL

Graduated Cylinder
Volumes in graduated cylinders are measured by measuring the height of a liquid in
the column. Thus, it’s very important that the column has uniform diameter along its entire
height. The graduations of the cylinder are in milliliters (mL) (Hajjaji, 2015).

Table 2. Equipment Accuracy of graduated cylinder (westlabblogcanada, 2017)

Equipment Accuracy
Graduated Cylinder 0.01 ml

However, measuring the volume accurately, one should be familiar with meniscus,
upward (convex) or downward (concave) curve seen at the top of a liquid in a container,
wherein readings for different types of liquid vary.

Figure 1. Meniscus: upward (convex) and downward (concave).

Techniques in measuring volume of liquids using graduated cylinder (Barkan, 2017):

1. Select a clean and dry cylinder that is large enough to hold the volume of liquid being
measured.
2. Steady the tube with one hand while pouring the liquid you are measuring into it from
another container.
3. Hold the cylinder at eye level to take a reading. Ensure that it is hanging straight
down. Avoid crouching to read the cylinder while it is resting on the table.
4. Look at the horizontal lines on the side of the cylinder. Ascertain to which line the
meniscus is closest.
5. Determine the increments of measurement on the tube.
6. Locate the closest whole measurement below the surface of the liquid. Count the
number of segments up to the line nearest the meniscus. Calculate the volume of the
liquid by adding the whole measurement to the sum of the segments.

Bunsen burner

In handling instruments that require the use of gas and flames, it is very important to
take precaution and safely follow proper procedures. Operating a Bunsen burner is similar to
that of a common gas stove. You need to know where the gas control valves and air control
valves are located. Always determine how the valves operate before connecting it to the gas
outlet. (SAFETY PRECAUTION: Make sure all gas outlets are closed then open the gas line
located outside the laboratory). Close both valves in the burner then connect the rubber
tubing to the gas outlet. Slightly open the gas outlet valve, light a match, and then slowly open
the gas valve in the burner (Hajjaji, 2015).

Objectives

Our goal for this experiment is to learn common laboratory techniques and operations
specifically related to using Bunsen burners, balances, pipettes, and graduated cylinders.

Scopes and limitations

Lab techniques:
Bunsen burner – Differentiating luminous and non-luminous flames
Balances – Knowing how to use
Pipettes – Developing pipetting skills
Graduated cylinders –How to read volumes properly
Proper Cleaning of glassware
Methodology

A. Apparatus and Chemicals

Table 3. Laboratory Equipment and Materials Needed

Laboratory Equipment Techniques and Operations Other Equipment/Materials
Related Needed
Laboratory Balance  Beaker
a. Analytical Balance  Thermometer
 Erlenmeyer flask
 Distilled water
b.Top-Loading Balance Calibrating 10-mL pipettes
using the laboratory balance
Pipette
(Volumetric and
Graduated)
Graduated Cylinder Measuring Volume of Liquid  Beaker
 Erlenmeyer Flask
Bunsen burner Lighting the Bunsen burner  needle valve
 collar
 barrel

B. Procedure

a. Bunsen burner

Create an efficiently burning flame by adjusting the gas-control valve and the air-
control valve on the burner. Nonluminous flame (blue flame); luminous flame (yellow flame)
(Beran, 2014)

1. Lighting the burner – When lighting the burner, ports at the base of the barrel should
be partially close, turn the gas full on, hold the sparker or match about 5 cm above the
top of the burner, and proceed to light. The gas flow may then be regulated by
adjusting the gas valve until the flame has the desired height. If a very low flame is
needed, remember that the ports should be partially closed when the gas pressure is
reduced. Otherwise the flame may burn inside the base of the barrel. When the flame is
improperly burning in this way, the barrel will get very hot, and the flame will produce
a poisonous gas, carbon monoxide. (Laboratory Procedures Lab, 2015).

2. After lighting the burner, adjust the air-control valve until the flame is blue or there
are 2 or more distinct cones in the flame. (Beran, 2014).
 3. Furthermore, slowly open the gas-control valve of the burner until you hear a slight
buzzing sound. If there is too much air or gas, the flame goes out. Now, when the flame
is yellow, open the air control valve; when the flame “jumps,” close the gas-control
valve. The flame should exhibit three distinct cones (less than 1.5 in. high, and be blue
in color) if the best adjustment is reached. (Beran, 2014).

4. If the flame goes out, immediately close the gas valve at the outlet and repeat the
procedure for lighting the burner. (Beran, 2014).

b. The Graduated Cylinder (Hajjaji, 2015)

1. Half-fill a 100mL graduated cylinder. Notice that the water meniscus is concave.
2. Read the volume of water in the cylinder to the nearest 0.1 mL. Record data.
3. Determine the maximum volume a 150 mL Erlenmeyer flask can hold. Record data.

Note: For water and most liquids, use the bottom of the meniscus. For mercury, take the
measurement from the top of the meniscus. In either case, you are measuring based on the
center of the meniscus. For a flat meniscus, make sure the liquid is level. Usually placing the
container on a lab bench does the trick (Helmenstine, 2018).

c. Calibrating 10-mL pipettes using the laboratory balance (Hajjaji, 2015)

1. Get 70 mL distilled water using a beaker.

2. Allow the distilled water to settle down while weighing a dry 25-mL Erlenmeyer flask
in a laboratory balance. Record measured weight of the flask then tare the laboratory
balance.
3. Measure temperature of the distilled water. Record data.
4. Using your 10 mL graduated pipette, pipette 10mL of water into the previously
weighed Erlenmeyer flask. (Properly label the Flask before weighing)
5. Obtain the weight of the distilled water using the same laboratory balance. Record
data.
6. Repeat procedure 2-5 at least 3 times.
7. Using a volumetric pipette, repeat procedure 2-6.

To solve for the volume of the distilled water, use Table 2 and the formula:

Density=mass/volume

Calculate mean value and average deviation from the mean.

 Table 4. Density of pure water (g/cm3) at temperatures ranging from 10.0°C to
30.9°C by 0.1°C increments (Hajjaji, 2015)

Expected Outcomes-

We will achieve our objectives by learning first on how to learn common laboratory
techniques and operations specifically related to using Bunsen burners, balances, pipettes,
and graduated cylinders.

Before we light the burner, we need to consider that we have taken the following
safety precautions such as wearing of safety goggles and aprons. Confine long hair and loose
clothing: tie long hair at the back of the head and away from the front of the face, and roll up
long sleeves on shirts, blouses, and sweaters away from the wrists. We should also know the
locations of fire extinguishers, fire blankets, safety showers, and sand buckets and the
procedure for using them in case of a fire.

When lighting the burner, we should partially close the ports at the base of the barrel,
turn the gas full on, hold the sparker or match about 5 cm above the top of the burner, and
proceed to light. The gas flow may then be regulated by adjusting the gas valve until the flame
has the desired height. If a very low flame is needed, remember that the ports should be
partially closed when the gas pressure is reduced. Otherwise the flame may burn inside the
base of the barrel. When the flame is improperly burning in this way, the barrel will get very
hot, and the flame will produce a poisonous gas, carbon monoxide.

When using the balance, we should ensure that the beam is horizontal. Before
weighing, we should check and adjust the pointer at zero point using the screws provided on
both sides of the beam.

When using a pipette to transfer an amount of liquid to an apparatus, we should use

the pipette filler bulb or a pipette filler pump for safety purposes. After we empty the pipette,
we should not blow out the remaining liquid. Pipettes are so designed that the little amount of
liquid remains untransferred is not taken into calibration. Pipettes should always be rinsed
with the solution which is to be measured by it. We should note that while handling the
pipette, hands should be dry so that pressure is regulated easily.

We should always use a clean graduated cylinder because the dirt inside may affect
the solution. When reading the volume of the liquids, we should observe it on the proper line
of sight.

If we have to dispose the chemicals at the end of the experiment, we should ask our
teacher for the correct method of disposal.

After that, we will practice what we have learned from the instructions we got
together with the assistance of our teacher for sureness.
References:
Barkan, K. (2017, April 24). How to Measure Liquids Using a Graduated Cylinder. [Blog Post].
Retrieved from https://sciencing.com/measure-liquids-using-graduated-cylinder-
7514485.html

Basic Laboratory Techniques. (no date). Retrieved from

http://ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/kelm202.pdf

Beran, J. A. (2014). Laboratory Manual for Principles of General Chemistry (10th ed.). Texas:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Hajjaji, S. E. (2015). Laboratory Manual for General Chemistry 1. AL AKHAWAYN University.

Helmenstine, A. (2018). Know the Right Way to Read a Meniscus. Retrieved 25 August 2019,
from https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-read-a-meniscus-606055

Westlab. (2017, November 21). How to Read a Meniscus in Chemistry.[Blog]. Retrieved from
https://www.westlab.com/blog/2017/11/21/how-to-read-a-meniscus-in-chemistry
Laboratory Procedures Lab. (2015, August 22). Retrieved from
http://www.whitehouseisd.org/ourpages/auto/2015/8/22/40231751/Laboratory%20Pr
ocedures%20Lab.doc

Lubran, M. (1973). Accuracy and Precision in Clinical Chemistry. Annals of Clinical

Laboratory Science, 3(6). Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org

May, M. (2018). A Guide to Proper Pipetting. Retrieved from

https://www.labmanager.com/product-focus/2018/05/

Your Practical Guide to Basic Laboratory Techniques Basic laboratory. (2018). Retrieved
from https://www.sciencemag.org/

[Figure 1.] Retrieved from:

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