By: Tanya Holder 2009Williams IB Middle Magnet School

What is lab safety?

• It is using lab equipment properly

• It is planning ahead

• It is taking precautions

• It is always being on the lookout for dangers

Why is lab safety important?

• The lab can be a very dangerous place.

• By doing the right thing, we can make sure everyone has fun in science without getting hurt.

Safety is job one – Before working in any lab

1. Locate all the exits in the lab

2. Know the evacuation plan in case of a fire

3. Know where all the safety equipment is located in the lab

4. Know where the emergency GAS shut off is located

5. Follow the laboratory safety rules.

1. Fire extinguisher2. Fire blanket3. Eye wash4. Emergency shower5. Emergency escape route6. Gas shut off7. Telephone8. Sand9. Aprons10.First Aide kit11.Kitty litter12.goggles

Placement of Safety Equipment for room 221

•Draw the floor plan for room 221 and identify where all the safety equipment is located.

Phone

goggles

Fire blanketFire extinguisher

First aidekit aprons

Safety showerEye wash

Demo table

Emergency gas shut off

exit

Safety equipment for room 221

Teacher’s Desk

Sand bucketKitty litter bucket

Exit

Where do I go for an emergency escape (evacuation)?

• Move quickly and quietly out the assigned door. Walk down the last stairwell.

• Walk on the sidewalk south of the technology classroom. (walkway in front of Mrs. Love’s classroom).

• Walk through the PE court onto the left side of the track.

Enter the track trough here

X - We meet here

Review the Lab Safety Contract

• Lab safety is for EVERYONE’S safety! • Let’s go over the safety contract…

• Be sure that you get your parent’s signature on your contract & return it to your teacher.

What needs to be worn at all times

1. Goggles2. Closed toe shoes3. Clothing that is not oversized

If your goggles become foggy first loosen the strap. If that doesn’t work, wash them with soap and water. Not seeing clearly can lead to accidents.

Oversized sleeves can easily catch on fire or tip over glassware, reagent bottles and the Bunsen burner.

Eye protection is mandatoryIn this course we will be using acids, hot liquids, pressurized gasses, glassware, etc.

To protect your eyes always wear your goggles as soon as the lab begins. Do not take them off until you are leaving the lab.

If you get something in your

eyes. Immediately,

1. go to the eye wash station,

2. push down the yellow bottom,

3. open your eyes, using your fingers to hold open your eyes.

4. Rinse your eyes for 15 minutes and not a minute less.

How do I use the fire alarm?

• ONLY pull if instructed to!

• Push in the lever then pull

CAUTION: You will get ink on your hands!

How do I use the telephone?

• The in room phone does NOT dial out. It only allows you to call from room to room.

• Dial the number(s) for the office posted by the phone (*100)

• Be sure to identify who you are, where you are, and what the emergency is!

Most of our labs involve the use of Bunsen burners. Fire is our main concern. You must be ready to put out a fire that’s on;

•The table

•Your lab partner

•Yourself

What do I use sand for?

• Sand can be used to put out small fires.

• The sand is in a WHITE bucket.

• We also use kitty litter to pick up chemical spills.

• The kitty litter is in a Gray bucket

--Pull the pin

–Aim at the base of the fire

–Squeeze the handle

–Sweep side-to-side

This will allow you to discharge the extinguisher

• Aim at the base of the fire. If you aim at the flames (which is frequently the temptation), the extinguishing agent will fly right through and do no good. You want to hit the fuel.

• Squeeze the top handle or lever. This depresses a button that releases the pressurized extinguishing agent in the extinguisher.

• Sweep from side to side until the fire is completely out. Start using the extinguisher from a safe distance away, then move forward. Once the fire is out, keep an eye on the area in case it re-ignites

If your clothes are on fire drop on the floor and try to smother the flames. The fire blanket can be used to smother a fire but if a person is wrapped in the blanket, they can create the chimney effect. This allows the fire to quickly spread to the head.

It is quicker and more effective to walk to the shower and pull the handle. Make sure that you do not run since running just feeds the flames

What do I need to do to prepare myself and my space for a lab?

• Wear closed-toed shoes• Avoid loose clothing & jewelry• Pull back long hair• Avoid using hair spray & hair gel• Protect your clothing• Clear off all extra materials, books, etc.• Wear safety goggles whenever you work with

– Glassware– Heat/fire– Chemicals

Heating a Test tube

Smelling anything in Lab?

• It’s called wafting.

• Hold the substance away from your nose and gently waft the vapor toward your nose.

1

2

3

4

5

Used to hold extremely cold substances like dry ice.

Need to know the Title Name for each symbol

6

7

8

9

10

11

13

14

12

15

How many things can you find wrong with this picture?

No goggles

No goggles Didn’t check the safety equipment before starting lab?

clutteredDidn’t follow directions

Not payingattention

Laboratory Equipment and Techniques

Examine all glassware before using. Never use glassware that is chipped or cracked. Give the glassware to your teacher for proper disposal.

Smelling anything in Lab

• It’s called wafting.

• Hold the substance away from your nose and gently waft the vapor toward your nose.

These clamps are used to hold test tubes and flasks onto a ring stand.

Crucibles are made of porcelain and are very fragile.

Crucible tongs open like scissors. Make sure that the screw that keeps them together is not loose. If the tips can slide pass each other, your crucible can end up on the floor.

Wash bottles that contain water should be marked H2O.

Never squirt another student. That is considered horse play.

The test tube holder should only be used for test tubes. If the clamp is too loose do not use. Give it to Mrs. Holder to fix.

Heating a Test tube

Test Tubes• Make sure

that you are using the right size for your lab.

• Wash them using a test tube brush and soap

• Place them upside down on the test tube rack to dry.

If the striker doesn’t seem to be working make sure that it has a flint in it.

Wire mesh is used over a ring to help support a beaker or evaporating dish.

Scoopula

Microscoopula

Iron Support Ring with clamp

Washing a solid into a filtering funnel

Read a graduated Cylinder from the bottom of the meniscus.

Read a graduated Cylinder from the bottom of the meniscus.

ml

• What reading would you get for this meniscus?

• What reading would you get for this meniscus?

• 6.6ml

Pouring Reagent into beaker

• Heating of a liquid in which you want to minimize the vapors in the room. Notice that this is not a closed system.

Lighting a Bunsen Burner

After attaching the hose to the gas outlet, turn the handle on the outlet parallel to the nozzle to open the gas valve.

Turning the Gas On

When the handle is aligned with the spickett/hose the gas is flowing (ON).

• When you are sure that you have gas, bring the head of the striker over the burner and squeeze the striker handle.

• The spark produced will ignite the gas and your burner is lit.

• Adjust the air control vent only so that the flame has the proper color pictured here (Blue).

• A yellow flame indicates a lack of oxygen, meaning that the air vent needs to be opened.

• The hottest part of the burner flame is just at the top of the bright blue inner cone.

Never adjust the Fine Gas Control – it is the small

knob that is parallel to the table and on the other side

of the gas intake valve

hot

The gas valve is turned off by turning the handle 90 degrees in either direction.

• Never leave a flame unattended.

• Make sure that you turn off the gas when you are done in Lab.

• Also close the air vents on the Bunsen burner.

Can you guess what’s wrong with this

picture?

Can you guess what’s wrong with this

picture?

The Bunsen burner is not stable.

Measuring with a four beam (centigram) balance

Four Beam balance•Never store the centigram with the pan assembly hanging.•When moving the balance, hold the main body by the red-neck and the pan assembly firmly in the other hand. •Never allow any part of the balance to fall. It’s a deduction of 5 points.•Always get your assigned number and write it in your notebook.

• Parts of the Centigram Balance

Balancing the Centigram

1. Check that all the riders are on zero.

2. Check the calibration numbers on the balance, pan, and the pan support. All three numbers should be the same.

3. Check that the pan support hangs from the upper hook.

4. The pans are clean and dry.

• Gently move the fine adjustment screw (knob) to zero the balance.

• The pan orientation does not effect the zeroing of the balance.

Taking a measurement

• Always move the biggest rider first. The rider must click (lock) into place.

• If the balance moves then you have overestimated. Move this rider back to the previous position.

• Then, move the next lightest rider until the balance registers the mass. Return the rider to the previous lowest mass, that the balance did not register. Then, move the third rider, etc. etc.

• When all the riders are on the right mass, record the value of the combined masses of all the riders to obtain the mass of the object.

The four bean balance can be read to the 1/100 place and estimated to the 1/1000

place.

• Starting from the back

• Increments of 100g

• Increments of 10g

• Increments of 1g

• Increments of .1g – smaller lines for 0.01g

• Estimate the value of the 0.001g

All riders are in grams

• How would you read this measurements?

• Certain 300g +

• Certain 70 g +

• Certain 3 g +

• Certain 0.3 g +

• Estimated 0.05g

• Equals 373.35g

Triple beam balance

• How would you read this mass?

Triple beam balance

• 137.40g

Triple beam balance

What value would you record?

What value would you record?

8.0mm

Reading graphs

B CA

Reading graphs

A 0.50”B 1.30”C 1.83”

B CA

???

• 5.92cm

???

• There is no such thing as a perfect measurement. Each measurement contains a degree of uncertainty due to the limits of instruments and the people using them.

• Each measurement should be reported with some digits that are certain plus one digit with a value that has been estimated.

• For example, if a student is reading the level of water in a graduated cylinder that has lines to mark each milliliter of water, then he or she should report the volume of the water to the tenth place (ie. 18.5 ml.) This would show that the 18 ml are certain and the student estimated the final digit because the water level was about half way between the 18 and 19 mark.

The End