1.

1 Development in Chemistry Field and Its Importance in Daily Life

Meaning of Chemistry
Chemistry is a field of science that studies the structures, properties, compositions and interactions between
matters.

Chemicals in Daily Life

Careers Related to Chemistry

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 1.2 Scientific Investigation in Chemistry

Scientific Method

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Experiment 1.1
Exp 1.1 Investigating the effect of temperature of water on the solubility of salt
Aim To study the effect of temperature on the solubility of salt in water.
Problem Does the temperature of water affect the solubility of salt in water?
statement
Hypothesis The higher the temperature of water, the higher the solubility of salt in water
Variable Manipulated variable: Temperature of water
Responding variable : Solubility of salt
Constant variable : Volume of water, size of salt particles
Material Table salt, distilled water
Apparatus Measuring cylinder, beaker, glass rod, wire gauze, tripod, Bunsen burner and thermometer

Procedure

1. Beaker A is filled with 50 cm3 of distilled water that has been cooled in the refrigerator.
2. A spatula of salt is added to the beaker and the mixture is stirred until all salt is dissolved.
3. Step 2 is repeated until the salt does not dissolve anymore. The number of spatulas of salt added
is recorded.
4. 4. Steps 1 to 3 are repeated with beaker B and C using distilled water at room temperature for
beaker B and newly boiled water for beaker C

Results:
Beaker A B C
Condition of distilled Cooled in refrigerator At room temperature Newly boiled
water
Amount of salt that 1 spatula 3 spatulas 5 spatulas
can dissolve in water

Discussion 1. The solubility of salt refers to the amount of salt that can dissolve in water.
2. The amount of salt that can dissolve in water increases as the temperature of water increases.
Therefore, the solubility of salt in water increases with the temperature of water.

Conclusion The hypothesis is accepted. As the temperature of water increases, the solubility of salt increases

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 1.3 Usage, Management and Handling of Apparatus and Materials
Personal Protective Equipment
Safety equipment in the laboratory
Fume chamber
A specially designed
equipment to carry out
experiments that release
toxic vapours, cause
combustions or produce
pungent smells
Hand wash
Used for removing chemical
substances, oil, dirt and
microorganisms from the
hands.
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Safety shower
Is used to wash and clean
the body when a chemical
accident occurs on parts of
the body. This equipment
is also used to extinguish
fire on clothings
Eyewash
Used for washing and
cleaning the eye when
accidents occur on parts of
the eye.
Fire extinguisher
Used for extinguishing fire
in the laboratory
4
Storage of Chemicals
Types of chemical
Reactive metal
Hydrocarbon and organic
solvent
Chemicals with pH < 5 or
pH >9
Chemicals that are easily
decomposed
Heavy metals and toxic
substances
Examples of chemical
Lithium, sodium, potassium
Toluene, hexane, thinner
Concentrated hydrochloric
acid, concentrated ammonia
solution
Concentrated nitric acid,
hydrogen peroxide solution,
silver nitrate solution, liquid
bromine, liquid chlorine
Mercury arsenic, lead
Storage method
Kept in paraffin oil to prevent reaction between
these chemicals with moisture in the air.
Kept in shady area and far from sunlight and heat
source.
These corrosive chemicals are kept in special
storage cabinet and are kept locked.
Kept in dark bottles to avoid the exposure of
sunlight.
Kept in special labelled containers and kept in a
locked room which is heat free.

Disposal of Chemicals
Types of chemicals Disposal method
Hydrogen peroxide Hydrogen peroxide wastes (low concentration)
waste • poured directly into the laboratory’s sink.

Hydrogen peroxide waste (high concentration)

• diluted with water
• added with sodium sulphite for the decomposition process to take place before being
poured into the sink.

Solid wastes Solid waste (glass and rubber)

• disposed into special container

Organic solvents Organic solvents & hydrocarbons (toxic, carcinogenic, volatile and inflammable)
and hydrocarbons • cannot be disposed directly into the sink or the laboratory drain
• pollute the water source and the environment.
• kept in special containers made of glass or plastic.

Chemicals with pH Strong acid or strong alkali wastes

< 5 or pH >9 • damage the sink
• release a large amount of heat when react with water.
• placed in a labelled closed container before disposal

Heavy metals and Solutions containing heavy metals and toxic substances
toxic substances • kept in plastic bags
• the solutions be left to evaporate in the fume chamber.
• the bag of heavy metal residue is tied carefully and is put into the container of heavy
metal waste.
• should be discarded and disposed according to standard procedures.

Volatile substances Volatile Substances (alcohol, ammonia and bromine)

• easily converted to gas at room temperature.
• The gas are hazardous to humans and can be fatal if inhaled in large amounts.
• stored in closed containers and kept away from sun and heat.

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Actions to be Taken in the Event of an Accident in Laboratory
When these accidents happen, you should act according to the correct procedure as shown below:

1. Inform your teacher or the laboratory assistant about the accident immediately.
2. Prohibit other students from entering the accident site
3. Stop the spill from spreading to other areas by using sand to border it.
4. Clean the chemical spill.
5. Dispose of the chemical spill by following the correct procedures.

Steps to be taken the moment mercury spill occurs:

1. Inform your teacher or the laboratory assistant about the accident.

2. Make the spill site as the prohibited area.
3. Sprinkle sulphur powder to cover up the spill.
4. Contact the Fire and Rescue Department for further action

Eye is splashed by • Do not rub eye

chemicals • Rinse the eye with sufficient water

Accidentally • Spit out the ingested chemical.

ingested with • gargle with plenty of water
chemicals • Rinse the mouth with plenty of water.

Inhaling poisonous • Bring the victim out of the laboratory.

gas • Try to provide space for victims to breathe in the fresh air

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Question 1

a) Assume that you accidentally broke a test tube and the chemical in it spilled onto the table. What should you
do? (3M)
I will report the incident to the teacher immediately.
Then, using gloves, I will dispose of the broken test tube into a specific container that is prepared and clean up
the spill as instructed by the teacher.

b) What is a fume chamber? When is the fume chamber in a chemistry laboratory used? (3M)
A fume cupboard is used to carry out activities that involve volatile, inflammable or toxic chemicals so that the
vapour from the chemicals is disposed of immediately from the fume cupboard and does not contaminate the
air in the laboratory.

c) Figure 2 shows the set up of apparatus to investigate the factors that affect the rusting of iron nail.

I. State the Manipulated Variable

Presence of water and oxygen

II. State the Responding Variable

Rusting of iron nail

III. State the Fixed Variable

Type of nail

IV. Based on the variables, suggest a suitable hypothesis.

Water and oxygen are needed for iron rusting.

V. Construct a table to record the observations in this experiment.

Test tube Observation
A Iron nail does not rust
B Iron nail rusts
C Iron nail does not rust

VI. Draw a conclusion for the experiment,

Oxygen and water must be present for the iron nail to rust.

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Question 2

a) What is meant by chemistry?

A field of science that studies the structures, properties, compositions and interactions between matters.

b) Anything around us is a chemical.

I. Suggest three chemicals commonly found in daily life
Insecticide, colouring and detergent

II. Write the uses of the chemicals stated

Insecticide: to kill insect
Colouring: to give colour or restore colour loss during food processing
Detergent: to clean fabrics

c) Complete the table below by stating the related career

Description Career

Give recommendations to customers about make-up Cosmetic consultant

and beauty products
Study the use of living cells and bacteria in industrial Biotechnologist
and scientific processes
Study the nutritional values of food Nutitionist

d) List two laboratory rules.

Do not eat, drink, chase or run in the laboratory.
Do not pour the chemicals back to the reagent bottles

e) State two safety measures needed to be obeyed in the laboratory

Use safety goggles when mixing or heating chemicals.
Keep flammable substances away from the heat source.

f) Complete the table below by stating the function of each of the following personal protective equipment.
Equipment Function
Safety goggles To avoid dust or splashes of chemicals accidentally get into the eyes

Face mask To protect respiratory organs from toxic chemicals, either in the form of powder or
fumes

Gloves To protect hands from any injury, exposure to chemicals or infection

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Question 3

Below are some chemicals found in the laboratory.

Potassium Hydrogen peroxide Ethanol

a) How can you store the chemicals above in the laboratory? Briefly explain your answers
I. Potassium
Kept in paraffin oil

II. Hydrogen peroxide

Kept in dark bottles

III. Ethanol
Kept in shady area and far from sunlight and heat source

b) Mercury is a heavy metal that is toxic and must be handled with

I. What is mercury poisoning?
Phenomenon at which a person is exposed to mercury in a certain amount either accidentally inhaled
the mercury vapour or touch the mercury spill until the mercury is absorbed into the body through the
skin

II. Give two symptoms of mercury poisoning.

Nausea
Vomiting

III. Briefly explain how to handle mercury spills.

Inform the accident to the teacher immediately.
Next, make the spill site a restricted area.
Sprinkle sulphur powder to cover up the mercury spill.
Lastly, contact the Fire and Rescue Department for further action.

c) Diagram 3 shows a victim who accidentally inhaled a poisonous gas.

Explain how you can help the victim before bringing her to the nearby hospital to seek treatment.
Bring the victim out of the laboratory and try to provide space for victims to breathe in the fresh air.
Report the accident to the teacher immediately.
If necessary, seek treatment at a nearby hospital or clinic

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Question 4

a) A pupil wants to conduct an experiment. What are the personal protective equipment that she needs to wear
before entering the laboratory? (5M)
Safety goggles
Face mask
Gloves
Laboratory coat
Laboratory shoes

b) Give three signs of mercury poisoning? (3M)

Nausea
Coughing
Vomitting
Diarrhoea
Chest pain
Sore throat

c) If mercury spills in the laboratory, what are your actions? (4M)

Inform the teacher about the spillage.
Mark the site as a prohibited area.
Sprinkle sulphur powder to cover up the spillage
Call the Fire and Rescue Department for further action

d) What will happen if chemical substances are not disposed correctly? (3M)
Environmental pollution
Destroy flora and fauna habitats
Endanger human health

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Question 5

a) The diagram below shows the situation in a chemistry laboratory

I. Identify two hazards that can be found in the picture due to negligence in wearing personal protective
equipment.
Chemical splash to eye
Chemical spill on clothing

II. Based on your answer in (a)(i), suggest what is needed to be done to minimise the hazard.
Wear goggles and lab coat

b) The diagram below shows some of the chemicals stored in a chemistry laboratory, which if not handled
properly can cause serious damage to health and laboratory equipments

I. State how the substances in the diagram are stored in chemistry laboratory.
Methanol: Methanol is stored in a shady area far from heat.
Potassium metal: Potassium metal is stored in paraffin oil.

II. Explain why such a storage method is required.

Methanol is flammable and need to be kept away from source of heat
Potassium is very reactive towards oxygen and water thus storing in paraffin oil can avoid the metal from
reacting

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Question 6

Diagram 1(a) shows a broken thermometer while diagram 1(b) shows two firemen cleaning the mercury spillage
by sprinkling yellow powder P on it. Mercury poisoning is dangerous because it can harm our health and maybe
damage our nervous system.

a) What is mercury?
Mercury is a type of neurotoxin that can damage the nervous system

b) What is mercury poisoning?

A type of metal poisoning when expose to excessive amount of mercury

c) State the physical state of mercury in room condition. State its freezing point
Liquid, -39°C

d)
I. Name the yellow powder P used by firemen during the cleaning of mercury spillage
Sulphur
II. State a reason fireman choose yellow powder P instead of the usage of vacuum cleaner.
Suction heat from vacuum cleaner can cause mercury gas to vaporise and spread throughout the house.

e)
I. State three human organs that can be affected by mercury poisoning. For each organ, state one
symptom of mercury poisoning
Heart, chest pain
Kidney, Kidney failure
Skin, Rash and inflammation

II. State three possible ways human get mercury poisoning.

Mercury vapour inhalation / mercury-contaminated foods / injections / skin absorption

f) State four symptoms caused by mercury poisoning in nervous system.

Headache / Tremor / Numbness/ Vision impairment / Speech and hearing disorders / Muscle weakness /
Walking difficulty / Memory loss

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Question 7

a) Define the meaning of scientific method

The scientific method is a systematic approach to solve problems in science.

b) Figure 3 shows a flow chart about steps involved in a scientific method

Complete the above chart (6M)

Making a hypothesis
Identifying the variables
Controlling the variables
Planning an experiment
Collecting data
Interpreting data
Making a conclusion

c) List five correct procedures that you should do if waste spill occurs in the laboratory. (5M)
Inform the accident to the teacher immediately
Make the spill area as a restricted area for students.
Try to stop the spill from spreading to other areas using sand to border it
Then, clean the chemical spill.
Dispose of chemical spills according to the correct procedure

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Question 8

a) List two laboratory rules

Do not eat, drink, chase or run in the laboratory.
Do not pour the chemicals back to the reagent bottles.

b) State two safety measures needed to be obeyed in laboratory

Keep flammable substances away from the heat source.
Do not point the mouth of the test tube at your face or at other people

c) State the function of each of the following equipment:

I. Fume Chamber
To carry out experiment that involves the release of toxic vapours, gases that can cause combustion or
gases with pungent smell.

II. Hand Wash

To remove dirt, oil, chemicals or microorganisms from the hands

III. Safety Shower

To wash and clean the body if accident happens on parts of the body. It is also used to put out fire at any
part of the body if there is fire.

d) How can you store the following chemicals in the lab

I. Reactive metal such as potassium
Kept in paraffin oil to prevent reaction between this chemical with moisture, water and air.

II. Hydrogen peroxide solution

Kept in dark bottles to avoid the exposure of sunlight

e) What is mercury poisoning? Give two symptoms of mercury poisoning,

Mercury poisoning is a phenomenon when a person is exposed to mercury in a certain amount. Two symptoms
of mercury poisoning are vomiting and difficult in breathing

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Question 9

Following diagram shows a broken thermometer

a) Name Substance X
Mercury

b) State one physical properties of substance X in room condition

shiny / shiny grey liquid

c) State two human organs that can affected after exposing to substance X. For each organ, state one symptom
of mercury poisoning
Heart, chest pain
Kidney, Kidney failure
Skin, Rash and inflammation

d) State the steps to be taken when this incident occurs in school laboratory
1. Inform your teacher or the laboratory assistant about the accident.
2. Make the spill site as the prohibited area.
3. Sprinkle sulphur powder to cover up the spill.
4. Contact the Fire and Rescue Department for further action

e) Explain how heavy metal like substance X is stored in laboratory

Kept in special labelled containers and kept in a locked room which is heat free.

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Question 1 I. Chemical splash to eye
a) I will report the incident to the teacher immediately. Chemical spill on clothing
Then, using gloves, I will dispose of the broken test tube into a specific II. Wear goggles and lab coat
container that is prepared and clean up the spill as instructed by the b)
teacher. I. Methanol: Methanol is stored in a shady area far from heat.
b) A fume cupboard is used to carry out activities that involve volatile, Potassium metal: Potassium metal is stored in paraffin oil.
inflammable or toxic chemicals so that the vapour from the chemicals is II. Methanol is flammable and need to be kept away from source
disposed of immediately from the fume cupboard and does not of heat
contaminate the air in the laboratory. Potassium is very reactive towards oxygen and water thus
c) storing in paraffin oil can avoid the metal from reacting
I. Presence of water and oxygen Question 6
II. Rusting of iron nail a) Mercury is a type of neurotoxin that can damage the nervous system
III. Type of nail b) A type of metal poisoning when expose to excessive amount of mercury
IV. Water and oxygen are needed for iron rusting. c) Liquid, -39°C
V. d)
Test tube Observation I. Sulphur
A Iron nail does not rust II. Suction heat from vacuum cleaner can cause mercury gas to
B Iron nail rusts vaporise and spread throughout the house.
C Iron nail does not rust e)
VI. Oxygen and water must be present for the iron nail to rust. I. Heart, chest pain
Question 2 Kidney, Kidney failure
a) A field of science that studies the structures, properties, compositions Skin, Rash and inflammation
and interactions between matters. II. Mercury vapour inhalation / mercury-contaminated foods /
b) injections / skin absorption
I. Insecticide, colouring and detergent f) Headache / Tremor / Numbness/ Vision impairment / Speech and hearing
II. Insecticide: to kill insect disorders / Muscle weakness / Walking difficulty / Memory loss
Colouring: to give colour or restore colour loss during food Question 7
processing a) The scientific method is a systematic approach to solve problems in
Detergent: to clean fabrics science.
c) b) Making a hypothesis
Career Identifying the variables
Cosmetic consultant Controlling the variables
Biotechnologist Planning an experiment
Nutitionist Collecting data
d) Do not eat, drink, chase or run in the laboratory. Interpreting data
Do not pour the chemicals back to the reagent bottles Making a conclusion
e) Use safety goggles when mixing or heating chemicals. c) Inform the accident to the teacher immediately
Keep flammable substances away from the heat source. Make the spill area as a restricted area for students.
f) Try to stop the spill from spreading to other areas using sand to border it
Function Then, clean the chemical spill.
To avoid dust or splashes of chemicals accidentally get into the eyes Dispose of chemical spills according to the correct procedure
To protect respiratory organs from toxic chemicals, either in the form Question 8
of powder or fumes a) Do not eat, drink, chase or run in the laboratory.
To protect hands from any injury, exposure to chemicals or infection Do not pour the chemicals back to the reagent bottles.
Question 3 b) Keep flammable substances away from the heat source.
a) Do not point the mouth of the test tube at your face or at other people
I. Kept in paraffin oil c)
II. Kept in dark bottles I. To carry out experiment that involves the release of toxic
III. Kept in shady area and far from sunlight and heat source vapours, gases that can cause combustion or gases with
b) pungent smell.
I. Phenomenon at which a person is exposed to mercury in a II. To remove dirt, oil, chemicals or microorganisms from the
certain amount either accidentally inhaled the mercury hands
vapour or touch the mercury spill until the mercury is III. To wash and clean the body if accident happens on parts of
absorbed into the body through the skin the body. It is also used to put out fire at any part of the body
II. Nausea Vomiting if there is fire.
III. Inform the accident to the teacher immediately. d)
Next, make the spill site a restricted area. I. Kept in paraffin oil to prevent reaction between this chemical
Sprinkle sulphur powder to cover up the mercury spill. with moisture, water and air.
Lastly, contact the Fire and Rescue Department for further II. Kept in dark bottles to avoid the exposure of sunlight
action. e) Mercury poisoning is a phenomenon when a person is exposed to
c) Bring the victim out of the laboratory and try to provide space for victims mercury in a certain amount. Two symptoms of mercury poisoning are
to breathe in the fresh air. vomiting and difficult in breathing
Report the accident to the teacher immediately. Question 9
If necessary, seek treatment at a nearby hospital or clinic a) Mercury
Question 4 b) shiny / shiny grey liquid
a) Safety goggles Face mask Gloves Laboratory coat Laboratory c) Heart, chest pain
shoes Kidney, Kidney failure
b) Nausea Coughing Vomitting Diarrhoea Chest pain Sore throat Skin, Rash and inflammation
c) Inform the teacher about the spillage. d) 1. Inform your teacher or the laboratory assistant about the accident.
Mark the site as a prohibited area. 2. Make the spill site as the prohibited area.
Sprinkle sulphur powder to cover up the spillage 3. Sprinkle sulphur powder to cover up the spill.
Call the Fire and Rescue Department for further action 4. Contact the Fire and Rescue Department for further action
d) Environmental pollution e) Kept in special labelled containers and kept in a locked room which is
Destroy flora and fauna habitats heat free.
Endanger human health
Question 5
a)

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