Virtual GROUP LABORATORY ACTIVITY 2:

LABORATORY SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES

A. Transferring Solid Chemicals*

Solid substances are kept in reagent bottles. The use of dark-colored bottles is used to protect the
chemicals from light. Reagent bottles can have a flat top or winged top for its stopper. Solid chemicals are
spooned out from the reagent bottle using a spatula. When transferring chemicals to a small-mouthed
container, a piece of paper is used.

Procedure: NARROW SOFTDRINK BOTTLE

SUGAR. SALT, BAKING POWDER
1. Get a piece of clean paper. Fold it lengthwise.
2. Transfer the solid reagents to the edge of the paper.
3. Hold the test tube in a horizontal position, slide the paper until it touches the bottom part of the
container.
4. Incline the apparatus and tap the paper gently. This is to ensure that the solid substance is
deposited at the bottom of the test tube and not on the sides.

B. Measuring Solid Substances Using Electronic Balance OPTIONAL

Electronic balances allow the user to quickly and accurately measure the mass of a substance to a
level of accuracy impossible for traditional balances to achieve. This is especially important in experiments
that require precise amounts of each substance to achieve the desired results.

Procedure:
1. Place the electronic balance on a flat, stable surface indoors. The precision of the balance relies on
minute factors and wind, shaky surfaces, or similar forces will cause the readings to be inaccurate.
2. Press the "ON" button and wait for the balance to show zeroes on the digital screen.
3. Use tongs or gloves to place the empty container you will use for the substance to be measured on
the balance platform. Fingerprints and other greases from your hands add mass and must be
avoided for accurate measurements.
4. Press the "Tare" or "Zero" button to automatically deduct the weight of the container from future
calculations. The digital display will show zero again, indicating that the container's mass is stored
in the balance's memory.
 5. Carefully add the substance to the container. Ideally this is done with the container still on the
platform, but it may be removed if necessary. Avoid placing the container on surfaces that may
have substances which will add mass to the container such as powders or grease.

C. Transferring Liquid Reagents*

The different techniques in transferring liquids are dependent on the type of receiving container.
The following are the techniques in transferring reagents into different types of glassware.

1. When pouring a liquid reagent into a wide-mouthed container, its neck must touch the rim of the
receiving vessel. A stirring rod may also be used to prevent the liquid from running down the
outside surface of the bottle . 2 TRANSPARENT GLASSES, STICK, LIQUID SOAP

2. A stirring rod or funnel is to be used when transferring a liquid reagent into a narrow mouthed
container.
 3. A medicine dropper or pipette is used in transferring small amount of liquid.

D. Measuring Liquid Substances*

The volume of a liquid can be directly measured with specialized glassware, typically in units of
milliliters (mL) or liters (L). It is important to read the graduated scale from the lowest point of the curved
surface of the liquid, known as the liquid meniscus when measuring the volume of liquids. PLASTIC
GLASS, MARKINGS, LIQUID SOAP

Procedure:
1. Select a cylinder that is large enough to hold the volume of liquid being measured.
2. Make sure that the graduated cylinder is clean and dry because unwanted particles or drops of
liquid in the cylinder could throw off the measurement.
3. Steady the tube with one hand while pouring the liquid you are measuring into it from another
container. Graduated cylinders are thin and can be tipped over easily, so take special care when
working with noxious or volatile liquids.
4. Hold the cylinder at eye level to take a reading.
5. Take the liquid measurement at the very bottom of the dip in the surface of the liquid. This dip is
called the meniscus; it forms because liquid molecules are more attracted to the glass than they
are to each other.

Example:

The graduated cylinder

markings are every 1-milliliter.
When read from the lowest point
of the meniscus, the correct
volume reading is 30.0 mL. The
first 2 digits 30.0 are known
exactly. The last digit 30.0 is
uncertain. Even though it is a
zero, it is significant and must be
recorded.
E. Measuring the Volume of an Irregular Object (Water Displacement Method)*

For irregularly shaped solids, the volume can be indirectly determined via the volume of water (or
any other liquid) that the solid displaces when it is immersed in the water ( Archimedes Principle). The units
for solid volumes are typically cubic centimeters (cm 3) or cubic meters (m3). Note that 1 mL = 1 cm3. The
volume water displaced is equal to the difference between the final volume and the initial volume , or: V=Vf
–Vi, where the volume water displaced is equal to the volume of solid.

F. Heating Liquids and Solids optional

Preparing a heating Set-up

1. A wire gauze is placed over an iron ring to prevent a direct heating.
2. If an iron clamp is used to hold a container, it should not be fastened too tightly to prevent the
breakage of the glassware. Glass expands upon heating.
3. To heat a test tube that is clamped
G. Heating a test tube OPTIONAL

Procedure:
1. Use a test tube holder to hold a test tube containing liquid or solid.
2. Hold the test tube at an angle of 45 degrees over the flame.
3. Heat the test tube contents by slowly passing its bottom part back and forth over the flame.
4. Avoid pointing the open end of the test tube to yourself or to others.

H. Preparing the Fluted Filter Paper *

You will need to fold your filter paper in a “fluted” manner to increase the surface area that is in contact with
your filtrate in this experiment. The following instructions will show you how to flute your filter paper. It is
essentially basic Origami for chemists.

1. Fold paper in half, then in half again and then in half again in the same direction. You should have
a 1/8 section cone.

2. Unfold this cone twice so it looks like a semicircle.

3. Now try a “fan fold.” Alternately fold up and down every eighth section of the semicircle.

4. Open the fan until you get a fluted filter cone.

5. As a final touch, try to find the two opposing sections that are not folded correctly. Fold them
inward to complete your perfect fan-folded filter paper.
Note: To make all creases, fold and press the paper. Do not run your finger or thumbnail along the folds. It
may weaken the paper enough to introduce unwanted holes during filtration.

I. Bunsen Burner Manipulation NOT REQUIRED

A Bunsen burner is one of the most widely used pieces of equipment in any chemistry laboratory.
It is unique because it produces a hot, steady, and smokeless flame. The Bunsen burner is most often
used to heat materials, but can also be used in sterilization and combustion.

Types of Flames:
A Bunsen burner can produce 3 different types of flames:

1. Safety Flame - The "coolest" flame is a yellow / orange color.  It is approximately

300°C.  It is never used to heat anything, only to show that the Bunsen burner is on

2. Blue Flame – a. k. a. invisible flame or medium flame. It is difficult to see in a well-

lit room and is the most commonly used flame. It is approximately 500°C.
 3. Roaring Blue Flame - The hottest flame, characterized by a light blue triangle in
the middle and it is the only flame of the 3 which makes a noise.  It is approximately
700°C.

Procedure:
1. Attach one end of the rubber tubing to the burner and the other to the gas supply. Make sure that
the rubber tubing is properly fitted on both ends to prevent gas leakage.
2. Close the air holes
3. Light a matchstick and turn on the gas control. Bring the lighted match to the top edge of the
burner.
4. Slowly open the air holes.
5. Adjust the air supply by manipulating the air ports.
6. Close the air holes followed by the gas control in closing the Bunsen burner.

J. Titration Method NOT REQUIRED

Titration is a procedure in which a solution – called the titrant – whose concentration is known very
accurately is dispensed by a burette and reacted with a known volume of another solution of unknown
concentration – called the analyte. By measuring the amount of titrant needed to neutralize the analyte, you
can determine the concentration of the analyte very accurately. The "end point" of a titration is the point at
which the titration is complete, typically when an added indicator solution such as phenolphthalein changes
color. The "equivalence point" is closely related to but not necessarily identical with the end point. The
equivalence point is the point at which the number of moles (or equivalents) of titrant exactly equals the
number of moles (or equivalents) of analyte.

Procedure:

1. Rinse the inside of a clean burette thoroughly with the solution it will contain. Allow the
solution to run out through the stopcock. Drain the burette completely. Repeat the rinse at least
once.

2. Make sure the outside of the burette is clean and dry, and then mount it securely to a
laboratory ring stand using a burette clamp of the proper size.

3. Fill the burette to above the zero mark, using a graduated cylinder, small beaker, flask or other
container. Use a funnel if necessary to prevent spillage.
4. Run some solution through the stopcock to fill the burette tip completely, making sure there
are no air bubbles and that the level of the solution falls to or below the zero mark.

5. Record the starting volume. When you complete the titration, you will subtract the starting
volume from the final volume to determine the amount of solution you have added. (Read the
volume from the bottom of the meniscus).

SOURCES:
http://science.pc.athabascau.ca/labinfo.nsf/74fd7b440e095b0f87256b1a000fe7fa/
b2341ccb663bc60687256da600783e65
https://www.labdepotinc.com/articles/titration.html

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