CHEMISTRY 108

What Are the Safety Concerns in the Laboratory?

Worksheet

Team Name:______

Team Member Names:______

Date: ______

  1. Describe the dangers of not wearing goggles in the lab. What conclusion about when to wear goggles can you draw from this description?
  1. Describe the dangers of wearing tank tops, shorts, or sandals in the lab. What clothing items are most appropriate for laboratory work?
  1. What hazards are posed by loose or dangling hair, clothing, and jewelry?
  1. What are then dangers of eating, drinking, and smoking in the lab?
  1. Where should you store your personal effects when they are not needed? What are the dangers of leaving them on you lab bench?
  1. What are appropriate procedures for handling lab injuries?

  1. Describe the location of the nearest

(a) safety shower.

(b) eyewash fountain.

(c) fire extinguisher.

(d) first-aid kit.

(e) emergency exit.

8. What should you do if chemicals are spilled on lab benches?

9. What should you do if you spill some mercury?

10. What are proper procedures for weighing chemicals on balances?

11. Why should you always use a rubber bulb when pipetting?

12. How should you dispose of

(a) acids and base?

(b) aqueous solutions?

(c) small amounts of water-soluble solids?

(d) large amounts of water-soluble solids?

(e) insoluble solids?

(f) broken glass?

(g) flammable liquids?

13. Why should you never heat heavy-walled glassware (volumetric flasks, burets, graduated cylinders, and so on) directly with a flame?

14. How should you move a hot flask? Why is a test tube holder inappropriate?

15. How should you smell a chemical?

16. What should be your immediate reaction if chemicals come into contact with your skin?

17. When is it appropriate to taste a chemical or solution?

18. When should you use the fume hood?

19. What are the consequences of returning unused chemicals to the reagent bottles?

20. What information is generally provided on a MSDS? With a chemical of your choice, look up the proper handling procedure for that chemical. Computers are available in the backroom. A web site to try is: http://hazard.com/msds/ or MSDSs are available in the stockroom.