Lab Safety Activity: Safety in the Laboratory and Inventory Check listPage 1 of 8

Lab Safety Activity: Safety in the Laboratory and Inventory Check List

Introduction

Chemistry is all about making sense of matter. So far, you have explored many of the theoretical aspects of chemistry through the readings and exercises contained in the web pages, the textbook, and other resources. Theory is based on observations, and in chemistry, most of these observations have been made in laboratories.
Throughout the years, many chemists have learned lab safety lessons the hard way. Their experiences have given rise to procedures designed to promote the safety of those who have followed them into the lab. It is your responsibility and that of the professionals at your school to ensure that proper safety procedures are followed when you complete lab activities.

As a student of chemistry, it is essential that you have a clear understanding of all of the activities that you will be carrying out, including potential dangers. It is also important that you know what to do in case of an accident. This lab activity reinforces your existing knowledge of lab safety and introduces practices that are specific to the chemistry lab.

This lab activity involves an inventory checklist. This will ensure that you have all the necessary equipment and materials to perform the assigned labs throughout the year.
MHR Chemistry Textbook Reference:

Safety in Your Chemistry Laboratory and Classroom,pages x - xiii (located at the beginning of the textbook)

Problem

Identify the safety equipment available for your use in the lab and state the safety rules that must be practiced in the chemistry laboratory.

Complete an inventory check list to ensure your school has all the materials needed to complete the required lab component of chemistry 2202.

Apparatus and Materials

  • Lab Safety video - there is a link to this video on your WebCT course menu
  • Identified Laboratory Safety Equipment
  • Equipment and materials checklist - attached
  • Safety contract - attached

Procedure

A. General Safety Rules

1.View the lab safety video provided as a link in the webct course menu.

2.You are asked to read and practice these safety rules:

  • Always listen to the teacher and obey his or her instructions. Do not run or horse around in the lab - you may cause a serious accident.
  • Do not chew gum or eat or drink anything in the laboratory.
  • Tie long hair back out of the way and do not wear loose clothing or hats with protruding brims. You should wear a laboratory coat or apron to protect your clothing and closed shoes to protect your feet (no open-toed shoes or sandals).
  • Wear eye protection (safety glasses or goggles) in all science labs whenever there is a chance of eye injury from chemical splashes or flying debris. Always wear eye protection in the Chemistry lab when experimental work is going on. Do not wear contact lenses in science labs.
  • Read the instructions for each activity carefully before coming to the lab. Never try anything other than the written laboratory instructions without first consulting your supervising teacher - something unexpected and very dangerous may happen. Do not carry out any laboratory activities unless a teacher is present.
  • After the lab activity, clean off your bench area. Always wash your hands with warm water and soap after the lab.
  • Report all accidents to the teacher, no matter how small they may seem.
  • Know where the safety equipment is located in the lab.
  • If a chemical is spilled on your skin, immediately wash it off with lots of water. If a large amount of chemical is spilled on your skin or clothing, rinse it off under the safety shower.
  • If a chemical is splashed in your eyes, immediately flush your eyes with water for at least 15 minutes, and contact a doctor.
  • If you should discover a fire, notify your teacher immediately. Warn other students to keep away from the area and follow your teacher's directions. If the fire is large, evacuate the room, close the door and pull the fire alarm. Tell the teacher and the firemen, when they arrive, where the fire is and any other relevant information about the situation. If your clothing or hair should catch fire, drop to the floor and roll to extinguish the flames. Do Not Run - this can make the fire worse. Yell to catch the attention of others so that they can help extinguish the flames with water or a fire blanket. If you see another student whose clothing or hair has ignited, tell the teacher and get clean water or a fire blanket to help them extinguish the flames.
  • Never leave a Bunsen burner flame unattended. When the flame is not being used, close off the air inlet to make the flame yellow and visible. The blue Bunsen burner flame is hard to see and an accident may occur if someone does not see the flame.
  • If you are not sure whether a piece of equipment or glassware is hot or cold, approach it with the back of your hand so that you can detect any heat before grasping it. If you do burn yourself, flush the burned area with cold water. Notify the teacher and, if necessary, get medical attention.
  • Do not use cracked or chipped glassware and be careful with glass pipettes and other pointed glassware. If you do cut yourself, rinse the cut with cold water. For a serious cut which is bleeding heavily, apply pressure to the cut. Notify the teacher and, if necessary, get medical attention.
  • When pulling electric plugs out of sockets, grasp the plug, not the cord. Report any frayed cords or exposed wires to the teacher and do not touch them.
  • Handle all chemicals with respect. Chemicals which may be safe if handled responsibly and correctly may be dangerous if treated carelessly. Do not handle or mix any chemicals unless directed by your teacher. Do not enter the chemical storeroom without permission from your teacher.
  • When getting chemicals for use in an experiment, read the label twice to make sure you have the right chemical at the correct concentration. Read any safety information on the label as well. Be careful not to contaminate stock bottles of chemicals - use clean spatulas to transfer solids and pour the required amount of any liquids you may need into a labeled, clean beaker, flask or test tube. Do not put dropping pipettes into any stock bottles of liquids. Do not take more of any chemical than you need and do not put excess chemicals back into stock bottles - dispose of them as directed by the teacher.
  • Report any spills of chemicals to the teacher.
  • When heating or mixing substances in test tubes, make sure the mouth of the test tube is pointed away from yourself and other people. Heat test tubes gently, moving them through the flame.
  • Do not dispose of any chemicals in the sink or garbage without the teacher's permission. Some chemicals and mixtures may need to be disposed of in special dumps, as directed by the teacher.
  • Dispose of broken glass in the glass disposal container, not in the regular garbage. Dispose of other sharp objects as directed by the teacher.

B. Safety Equipment

It is important that specific pieces of safety equipment be available in the room where you are conducting activities. Identify the following items and their locations. Complete the safety checklist sheet attached.

You should also check to see if the following safety equipment is available for your

personal use:

  • safety glasses or goggles
  • laboratory coat or apron
  • disposable gloves

If any of these items are not available, you should discuss the deficiencies with your principal and inform your chemistry teacher.

C. Student Safety Contract

It is obvious from the activities you have carried out in Parts A and B above that before you start to do any experiments in chemistry, you should be thoroughly familiar with safety equipment, chemical techniques, and what to do in the event of an accident. If you have carried out these activities and believe that you are now able to commence with chemistry experiments, you should sign a copy of the safety contract and give it to your principal in your school so that it can be placed on file.

It is important that you be safety conscious at all times in the laboratory.

D. Inventory check list.

In the direct supervision of your teacher, go through the inventory checklist to ensure that your school has all the necessary equipment and materials. Indicate on the checklist what you have and what you are missing.

Lab Report

Your report for this activity will include:

  1. a checklist of the safety equipment listed in Part B
  2. a copy of the safety contract in Part C. (give another copy to your principal)
  3. an inventory checklist in Part D.

All papers should be scanned together to create one file. Once scanned, name the file: Lab1_myname.pdf upload the file in the submit work link.

Lab Safety Activity: Safety in the Laboratory and Inventory Check listPage 1 of 8

Name:______School:______Page:___of___

Part A: Safety Guidelines.

  1. From Part A: General Safety Rules, what guidelines should you follow with respect to safety glasses?

Part B: Safety Equipment Checklist

Put a check mark in the appropriate column.

Safety Equipment / Have It / Need It
small fire extinguisher
fire blanket
eye wash station
safety shower
first aid kit
fume hood
glass disposal container
chemical spill kit
chemical resistant gloves
pair of safety tongs
plastic dustpan and brush
safety glasses or goggles
laboratory coat or apron
disposable gloves
  1. Is all the safety equipment easily accessible? If not, then describe deficiencies/access problems.
  1. Is the safety equipment in good working order? If not, then describe problems.

Part C: Student Safety Contract CHEMISTRY 3202

I have received instruction in the proper safety procedures to be carried out in doing chemistry activities. I have read the rules included in this activity and have viewed the videotape Lab Sense. I am aware that my safety and the safety of my classmates depends upon my behavior in doing these chemistry activities. I also understand that breaking any of these rules can result in a deduction of marks from the course or removal from doing the course.

Signature of Student:______

Signature of Principal or Designate:______

Date:______

I wear contact lenses? / ____ Yes / ____ No
I have a medical condition that can be affected
by exposure to chemical substances? / ____ Yes / ____ No

If yes, please provide details below:

Part D: Chemistry 3202 Inventory Checklist

Place a checkmark in the columns to the right indicating whether you have it or need it.

Note: solid chemicals are in units of grams while liquids and solutions are in units of mL.

Materials / Quantity Required / Have It / Need It
Chemicals
hydrochloric acid 1.0 M / 1.0 L
sodium hydrogen carbonate / < 100 g
calcium carbonate powder / < 100 g
calcium carbonate lumps / < 100 g
ammonium chloride / < 100 g
phenolphthalein indicator solution / <50 mL
sodium hydroxide (1.0 M) / 1.0-2.0 L
sodium hydroxide solid / <100 g
sodium carbonate (anhydrous) / <100 g
copper(II) nitrate solution (0.10 M) / 50 mL
zinc nitrate (0.10 M) / 50 mL
nickel(II) nitrate (0.10 M) / 50 mL
aluminum nitrate (0.10 M) / 50 mL
1 cm x 5 cm strip copper metal+ / 3
1 cm x 5 cm strip zinc metal+ / 3
1 cm x 5 cm strip nickel metal+ / 3
1 cm x 5 cm strip aluminum metal+ / 3
sodium chloride / <100 g
potassium nitrate / <100 g
Non-Consumables
safety glasses / 8
centigram balance / 1
25 x 200 mm test tubes* / 4 tubes
rubber stoppers (assorted) / 1 pkg
250 mL Erlenmeyer flask / 3
plastic tubing / 3 meters
straight plastic connecting tube / 3
thermometer / 2
50 mL graduated cylinder / 3
metal scoopula / pkg of 12
medicine droppers / 12
10.0 mL graduated (serological) pipettes / 2
pipette bulb / 2
buret clamp (double capacity) / 1
50 mL buret with stopcock / 1
funnel (microfunnel) / 2
ring stand (retort stand) / 1
250 mL beaker / 3
50 mL beaker / 2
stirring rods / 12
graduated plastic pipets (5.0 mL) / pkg of 100
student/electrochemical cell (complete) / 1
alligator clips (black) and red) / 1
alligator clips (red) / 1
adjustable power supply (D.C) with ammeter**
Vernier LabPro and peripherals**
Local Supply/Purchase
Emery cloth/fine sandpaper
styrofoam cups / 2-6
standard household vinegar / 1 L

* or graduated cylinder 100 mL

** Supplied by CDLI