EXPERIMENT 1

LABORATORY TECHNIQUES AND OPERATIONS

The laboratory is an integral part in any Chemistry class since Chemistry

depends on careful observations, orderly operations and use of proper
techniques. Laboratory regulations have been designed as a guide in developing
efficient laboratory techniques. Strict observance of the rules will ensure that all
the work done in the laboratory will be safe. Thus, basic laboratory techniques
and operations must be mastered by students taking up Chemistry.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the experiment, the students will be able to:

1. To learn the basic techniques in handling solids and liquids

2. To manipulate simple instruments/apparatus
3. To perform common laboratory operations

MATERIALS/APPARATUS
Bunsen burner distilled water erlenmeyer flask
test tube holder cork, lighter triple beam balance
glazed tile filter paper watch glass
glass tube test tube beaker
triangular file cork borer silver nitrate
flat bottom flask graduated cylinder sodium chloride

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PROCEDURE

I. Basic laboratory techniques

A. Bunsen burner
1. We require a Bunsen burner and a spark lighter.
2. Take a spark lighter.
3. Turn the gas on and light the burner. A non - luminous flame is produced.
4. On closing the air hole of the burner by rotating the air adjusting disc,
a luminous flame is produced.
5. On opening the air hole of the burner, a non - luminous flame is produced.

B. Bending a glass tube

1. We require, Bunsen burner, glass tube and glazed tile.
2. Take a glass tube. Hold the glass tubing between the thumb and fingers.
3. Introduce it lengthwise into the non-luminous flame of the burner.
Keep the tube rotating till it softens.
4. Apply gentle pressure so that it bends by itself. Remove the tubing
from the flame.
5. Place the bent limb on the glazed tile and press it gently so as to make
it coplanar.
6. Allow the tubing to cool.

C. Cutting a glass tube

1. Take a glass tube.
2. Place it on the table. Hold it firmly and make a single deep scratch with
a triangular file.
3. Place the thumbs on each side of the scratch at equal distances from it
and with a pressure give a quick bending motion until it breaks
smoothly. Thus we got two tubes from a single tube.

D. Drawing a glass jet

1. We require, Bunsen burner, a glass tube of required length and
a triangular file.
2. Take a glass tube of required length. Hold it with both hands then place
it lengthwise in flame. Keep rotating the tube till it softens.
3. Take the tubing out of the flame and gently pull the two ends in the
opposite directions. The middle portion is drawn out to a thickness
of about 2mm.

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 4. Allow the tubing to cool. Hold it firmly and make a single deep scratch
on the narrow portion with a triangular file.
5. Place the thumbs on each side of the scratch at equal distances from
it and with a gentle pressure gives a quick bending motion until it
breaks smoothly.
6. Finally round the ends of the jets by heating in the flame for a short
time. Thus, we got two glass jets from a delivery tube.

E. Wash bottle
1. Fill a flat bottom flask of 500ml with distilled water. An appropriate
cork with two bores is fitted into it.
2. One tube which bends at an angle of 60 degree is passed through one of
the bore in the cork. Then pass another tube which bends at an angle of
120 degree through another bore in the cork.
3. On blowing out air through the tube which bends at an angle of 120
degree, a stream of water comes out from the other tube.
4. On tilting the flask and blowing out air through the tube which bends at
an angle of 60 degree, a little larger amount of water comes out from
the other tube.

F. Softening of the cork

1. Take a cork and dip it in water until it becomes flexible.
2. Take the cork from water. Wrap the cork in a filter paper.
3. Place the wetted cork in a cork - presser and press it to soften it.
Thus, cork is softened.

G. Boring of the cork

1. Place the cork on the table with its narrow end upward.
2. Mark the position of the hole on both the sides of the cork with a pencil.
3. Take a borer and place it on the mark on the cork.
4. Apply force downwards on the borer and twist it at the same time.
The cork is bored from one end to the other.

H. Fitting a glass tube in the bore

1. Dip the bored cork in water.
2. Take a glass tube and wet the end of the tube with water.
3. Insert the tube into the bore by rotating it.

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II. Common Laboratory Operations

Listen and view the video carefully and describe the following common
laboratory operations based on what you heard and saw from the video. Write
your answers to the following in the activity sheet.

A. Measuring the volumes of liquids using a graduated cylinder

Describe how a graduated cylinder is used in measuring the volume of
a liquid.

a. In a test tube
b. In an Erlenmeyer flask

B. Measuring the mass using a triple beam balance

Describe how the triple beam balance is used to measure the mass of a
solid substance.

C. Transferring of liquids from one container to the other

a. Transfer a liquid from a beaker to an Erlenmeyer flask

b. Transfer a liquid from an Erlenmeyer flask to a beaker

D. Heating liquids inside a test tube

E. Precipitation: Reacting silver nitrate with sodium chloride

F. Filtration

a. Folding the filter paper

b. Describe the process of filtration

G. Decantation

Experiment Links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22ZB0ZwvOsQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRnql12WLwk

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Name: Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Course:
Instructor:
Group No.

EXPERIMENT 1

LABORATORY TECHNIQUES AND OPERATIONS

DATA AND RESULTS

1. Handling Chemicals and Reagents

a. Transferring liquid reagent

b. Heating liquid in a test tube

c. Getting solid reagents

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 d. Weighing solid reagents using a triple beam balance

e. Measuring liquids using the graduated cylinder

2. Precipitation

3. Filtration and Decantation

a. Filtration

b. Decantation

4. Evaporation

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QUESTIONS

1. What is the use of the glass rod in transferring liquid reagents?

2. When heating in a test tube, why is the test tube

moved back and forth across the flame?

3. Why should the spatula used for spooning solid

chemicals from a reagent bottle be clean and dry?

4. Compare filtration with decantation. Which is more

effective in separating solids from liquids? Explain your
answer.

5. Explain the use of evaporation in separating soluble solids from

liquids.

6. Illustrate/Draw the different laboratory

techniques and glass manipulations viewed
from the video.

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