UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA

FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
CHM1103 Experiment # 1 - Safety
Safe working habits in thought and action will free the random access (conscious) memory of
the mind to allow you to concentrate on learning new things and techniques.
Introduction:
Laboratory work is basic to any scientific pursuit. It is important to learn safety in the
laboratory. Well-educated chemists and well-educated chemistry students need to
understand the hazards of chemicals and of various chemical procedures in order to work
safely in the laboratory. When it is safe for us to return to the physical laboratory be sure to
locate the exits, fire alarm pull stations, eyewash fountains, safety showers, fire blankets, first
aid kits, and fire extinguishers.
Objectives:
Students will:/
 Review the basic safety rules of the chemistry lab
 Name and know how to use Safety Devices in the lab
 Become familiar with Material Safety Data Sheets, MSDS
 Identify and state the functions of laboratory equipment
 Develop skill in tabulation of data
Resources Needed
 Safety Brochure
 General Lab Safety Video
 MSDS sheet, https://www.msdsonline.com/sds-search/
 Accident card
 Data Set
Activities:
A- SAFETY:

Various types of chemicals are used in a large number of industries, chemical/fertilizer

plants, hospitals and research laboratories. The MSDS lists the hazardous ingredients of a
product, its physical and chemical characteristics (e.g. flammability, explosive properties),
its effect on human health, the chemicals with which it can adversely react, handling
precautions, the types of measures that can be used to control exposure, emergency and
first aid procedures, and methods to contain a spill. This information will allow you to
protect yourself and will inform you on how to respond to an emergency if one should
arise.
1. Identify FIVE inappropriate behaviours and state the effect of each
2. On the course page there is a document entitled accident assignments. You are
required to select the accident as assigned based on the first letters of your
surname. Use the appropriate MSDS to address your Lab incident.

B - TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Scientists use a variety of tools to explore the world around them. Scientific tools are very
important in the advancement of science. The type of tools scientists use depends on the
problems they are trying to solve. A scientist may use something as simple as a metric
ruler to measure the length of a textbook. In a different investigation, the same scientist
may use a thermometer to measure the temperature of an unknown boiling liquid.

1
 1. Complete the table.
C – SKILLS
In practical chemistry, we are often interested in finding out how one variable affects
another. For example, the effect of temperature on the solubility of a salt. In such an
investigation, the mass of a salt that dissolves in 100g of water at different temperatures
can be determined. The temperature, mass of water and mass of salt that dissolves are
experimental conditions called variables.
 The independent variable is the one under investigation, which is changed
systematically and for which we can choose different values (in this case, the
temperature).
 The dependent variable is the one we measure to judge the effect of changing the
independent variable (in this case, mass of salt that dissolves).
 The control variables are those that we must keep constant to ensure a fair test is
carried out (in this case, the mass of water in which the salt is dissolved).
It is important to keep a record of data collected while carrying out practical work. Tables
are often used to display data. When drawing a table the independent variable is in the left
column in numerical order and the other column(s) show the dependent variable. Tables
should have clear headings with units indicated using a forward slash before the unit. The
body of the table should not contain units. Finally, every table must have a title that
summarizes what the table shows. This Title is placed at the top of the table.
Table 1.0 Solubility of a salt at different temperatur
Temperature/°C Solubility/
g/100g water
25 1.25
25 3.04
45 5.31
55 7.50
1. Complete the following exercise.