SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY

Safety in the laboratory is our top priority. The compounds you will work with do have
some hazards associated with them. Therefore, it is important to follow the safety rules
outlined in this lab manual. You should assume that all compounds encountered in the
laboratory are toxic and handle them accordingly. Safety goggles for eye protection are
recommended and lab coats are to be worn by all students at all times when entering
the laboratory. Many chemicals, common in chemical laboratories, will make holes in
clothing. Always wash your hands thoroughly when leaving the laboratory.

During the first few laboratory meetings, your laboratory instructor will remind you of
the safety rules in the laboratory. You should be familiar with the safety equipment in
the laboratory and good laboratory practices before conducting any experiment.

Report ANY accidents which occur immediately to the laboratory instructor!

SAFETY RULES

1. Wear approved eye protection when required while in the laboratory. Wear goggles
when required.

2. Eating, drinking, and smoking are strictly prohibited in the laboratory at all times.

3. Know where to find and how to use safety and first-aid equipment.

4. Consider all chemicals to be hazardous unless you are instructed otherwise. Dispose
of chemicals as instructed by your instructor. Follow the explicit instructions given in the
experiments.

5. If chemicals come into contact with your skin or eyes, wash immediately with
copious amounts of water and then consult your laboratory instructor.

6. Wear closed shoes at all times.

7. Never taste anything.

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8. Never directly smell the source of any vapor or gas; instead, by means of your cupped
hand, bring a small sample to your nose (see figure below).

9. Perform in the hood any reactions involving skin-irritating or dangerous chemicals

and/or ill-smelling chemicals. A typical fume exhaust hood is shown below.

Exhaust hoods have fans to exhaust fumes out of the hood and away from the user. The
hood should be used when noxious, hazardous, and flammable materials are being
studied. It also has a shatterproof glass window, which may be used as a shield to
protect you from minor explosions. Reagents that evolve toxic fumes are stored in the
hood. Return these reagents to the hood after their use.

10. Never point a test tube that you are heating at yourself or your labmates. It may
erupt like a geyser.

11. Do not perform any unauthorized experiments.

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12. Clean up all broken glassware immediately.

13. Always pour acids into water, not water into acid, because the heat of solution will
cause the water to boil and the acid to spatter.

14. Avoid rubbing your eyes unless you know that your hands are clean.

15. NOTIFY THE INSTRUCTOR IMMEDIATELY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT!

16. Many common reagents, for example, alcohols, acetone, and especially ether, are
highly flammable. Do not use them anywhere near open flames.

17. Observe all special precautions mentioned in experiments.

18. Learn the location of fire protection devices.

19. Do not touch chemicals with your bare hands. Spatulas will be provided for handling
solid materials.

20. Do not pipet solutions by mouth. Rubber pipet will be provided, if needed.

21. Do not sit on the lab benches.

22. Do not engage in games in the laboratory. Failure to follow this rule will result in
immediate dismissal from the lab and subsequent conduct action.

23. Do not pour any chemicals into a sink without authorization from the instructor.
There are waste disposal bottles or containers available.

24. No student shall be permitted to work alone in the lab, you should be supervised by
a laboratory instructor.

25. Exercise good housekeeping practices in the laboratory. Be sure that the lab benches
remain free of disorder during the experiment. In the event of a spill, clean the area
immediately and be sure to use a wet sponge to wipe off the work station at the end of
the lab session.

26. Know what you have to do before entering the lab. Read the experiment carefully
before coming to the laboratory.

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 COMMON LABORATORY GLASSWARE AND EQUIPMENT

Balance Beaker

Used for measuring mass. Used to hold, mix, and heat liquids.

Beaker Tongs Bunsen Burner

Frequently used as a heat source in

Used to pick up beakers.
the absence of flammable materials.

Buret Clay Triangle

Used for dispensing an accurate

Used to support a crucible during
volume of a liquid.
heating.

Crucible Crucible Tongs

Used for holding chemicals during Used to hold crucibles.

heating to very high temperatures.

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Erlenmeyer Flask Evaporating Dish

Used to hold and mix chemicals. The Used to heat liquids for evaporation.
small neck is to facilitate mixing
without spilling.

Forceps Funnel

Used to pick up or hold small Used to transfer liquids or fine-

objects. grained materials into containers
with small openings. Also for
filtration.

Graduated Cylinder Mortar and Pestle

Used to measure a precise volume of Used to crush and grind materials.

a liquid.
Pipet Bulb Ring Clamp

Used to draw liquids into a pipe. Used with a ring stand to hold
glassware, such as a beaker or a
funnel.

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Ring Stand Scoopula

Used to hold or clamp laboratory Used to transfer solids.

glassware and other equipment in
place, so it does not fall down or
come apart.
Stirring Rod Test Tube

Used for stirring and mixing. Used to hold and mix liquids.

Test Tube Clamp Test Tube Rack

Used to hold a test tube, particularly Used to hold several test tubes at
when hot. one time.

Thermometer (digital or Utility Clamp

alcohol, not mercury)

Used to measure temperature in

Used to secure glassware to a ring
Celsius.
stand.

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Volumetric Flask Volumetric Pipet

Used to prepare solutions to an Used to measure small amounts of

accurate volume. liquid very accurately. Never pipet by
mouth! Use pipetting aids.

Wash Bottle Watch Glass

Used to rinse pieces of glassware Used to hold solids while they are
and to add small quantities of water. being weighed or to cover a beaker.
Wire Gauze

Used to support a container, such as

a beaker, on a ring stand while it is
being heated. May have a fiberglass
or ceramic center.