chem safety quiz

how should you handle chemicals?

1. Do not touch, eat, or smell any chemical unless instructed to do so. When instructed to smell a chemical, you need to fan the air above the chemical toward your nose. 2. Do not touch your face, eyes, or mouth while in laboratory. 3. Hold chemical containers away from your body. 4. check the label on the bottle before using its content. Make sure it is the correct chemical and correct concentration. 5. Do not waste chemicals; do not take more than what is required. 6. Never move a reagent bottle to your bench. Leave the bottle at its designated area on the supply bench. 7. Always hold all reagent bottles with your palm at the label. Wipe any drips off of the other side of the bottle before putting it back. Be sure the bottle is dry before replacing it on the lab bench or shelf. 8. Handle corrosive chemicals with extreme care. When diluting a concentrated acid, you must always add the acid slowly to the water while stirring to avoid splattering and releasing the heat all at once. In other words, ADD ACID. 9. Never pipette by mouth. 10. Always store chemicals in labeled containers. The etched white part on beakers and flasks is good for applying labels and markings using a pencil. Pen marks cannot be removed. 11. Handle toxic fumes produced by your experiment under the fume hood. Keep the fume hood sash down as far as possible. 12. Keep flammable liquids away from heat sources and open flames in the fume hood. 13. Never remove chemicals from the laboratory unless under explicit direction of the lab instructor. 14. Alcohol used in the lab is chemically denatured. It has been tainted with poison to make it unsuitable for drinking. Do not drink it. 15. Use distilled or de-ionized water when instructed to add water in an experiment or for a final rinsing of glassware. Distilled or de-ionized water is not to be used to boil water for a water bath. If you accidentally fill the distilled water bottle with tap water, tell the instructor immediately. 16. Place solids into a beaker or weighing paper before weighing on a balance. See that the balance is clean when finished. Brush off any spills. Take care in the use of the balances 17. after dispensing a chemical from a container, replace the stopper or lid immediately.

How to work with glassware?

1. Do not use cracked or chipped glassware. Get a replacement from the stockroom. 2. Always lubricate the glass tube before inserting it in a rubber stopper and hold it close to the end near the stopper. Protect your hands with a towel when inserting glass tubing. Insert carefully with a gentle twisting motion. Do NOT force it. If not successful, ask for help from the instructor. 3. Any broken glass must be cleaned up immediately. The instructor will direct the clean up of broken. do not attempt to clean broken glassware yourself unless instructed to do so. Clean up broken glass using a dustpan and brush. Broken glass must be placed in the green and white bin labeled "Broken Glass". 4. Do not shake a thermometer. Lay thermometer on a towel to cool, away from the edge of the lab bench. 5. If your ground glass stopper is frozen (stuck), report it to your instructor for replacement. If you force the stopper off the bottle, you may experience a chemical splash, burn and bodily injury. 6. When inserting a pipette into a pipette suction bulb, hold the pipette near the bulb and gently place the pipette into the opening.

how to handle chemical spills?

1. For large chemical spills on the body, get under the safety shower and flush the affected area for at least 15 minutes. While under the falling water remove all contaminated clothing. Get instructors attention. If your classmate spills chemicals on his/her body direct him/her to the shower and notify the instructor immediately. 2. For smaller chemical spills on you, rinse with large amounts of water using a drench hose for at least 15 minutes. 3. Mercury spills caused by broken mercury thermometers should be reported immediately to your instructor. Mercury gives off toxic vapor. Students are not allowed to clean up mercury spills. The instructor may evacuate the lab until cleaning until ventilation is complete. 4. For a large chemical spill on the countertop or floor, immediately notify the instructor. Do not step on the spilled chemical. The instructor will advise you about what to do. Chemical spills must be cleaned up immediately. Let the instructor clean up large chemical spills. 5. for small spills that can be cleaned up with a small amount of paper towel, avoid letting the chemicals soak through the paper and touch your hands.

how to work with hot glassware and equipment?

1. Heated metals, glassware and ceramics stay hot for a long time. Allow plenty of time for a hot metal to cool before touching it. you should test it by cautiously bringing the back of your hand close to the metal to feel if heat is radiating from it. 2. Handle hot objects like a beaker, evaporating dish, and crucible with the proper pair of tongs. Use the beaker tongs, evaporating dish tongs, and crucible tongs, respectively. 3. Keep your hair, clothing, and hands at a safe distance from the gas burner. 4. Evaporating dishes and crucibles can be heated to very high temperatures. They will crack and shatter if placed hot on the lab bench or come into contact with water. Therefore, they should be placed on wire gauze to cool. 5. Do not heat a closed container. Pressure build up may cause the container to explode. 6. Do not allow hot glassware to come in contact with cold water. It will shatter. 7. Hold a test tube with the test tube holder so that it is pointing along the length of the lab bench. The open end of the test tube should point away from yourself and your neighbors. Move the test tube back and forth through the flame at an angle. Do not heat above the liquid level.

how to use a bunsen burner?

1. If you are not sure how to light a Bunsen burner, ask your instructor. 2. Before using the gas burner, check its gas hose for cracks. Notify the instructor if cracks are found. 3. Stand back while lighting a gas burner. 4. Never reach over a Bunsen burner to turn on/off the gas valve. Move the burner to the side so you can reach the valve to turn on/off the gas. 5. If the flame goes out or if you smell gas, turn the gas off. If you continue to smell gas, notify students around you. Their hose or burner might be the one leaking. If the smell persists, notify the instructor. 6. To turn off the gas burner, you need to turn off the gas outlet valve. 7. Never leave a lit Bunsen burner unattended. If you need to step away from your bench, turn off the gas. 8. Turn the Bunsen burner off immediately when not in use.

how to avoid contamination of chemicals?

1. Never put your spatula in a bottle to remove solid chemicals. Instead, pour solid directly into your container by tilting the bottle and rotating it to control the amount dispensed. 2. If the solid seems to be tightly packed and will not pour off, close the container and then gently tap the bottle with the palm of your hand to loosen up the caked solid. 3. Never put your medicine dropper into a reagent bottle. Instead, pour some liquid into your container, and then use your medicine dropper to take as much as you need from your container. 4. Never return unused chemicals to their original containers. Dispose of the leftover chemical in the proper "waste container". Check with your instructor if you are unsure of what to do with your leftovers.

how To remove a cork, stopper, or lid,

After picking up the stopper, turn it upside down before placing it on the counter top. This will help avoid contaminating the chemical when the stopper is replaced.

how should you walk around the lab?

Do not run or walk quickly through the lab. Before you back up, look behind you to make sure no student is behind you that you might bump into.

are you allowed to eat in the lab?

Eating, drinking, and chewing gum are not allowed in the lab. No food or drink is allowed in the lab to avoid possible contamination. Chewing gum may absorb chemicals from the laboratory.

how to dispose chemicals?

If no specific instructions are given, you must do the following: a. Dispose of liquids and solutions by pouring them down the sink one at a time accompanied by running water. To avoid unexpected reactions; never mix chemicals in the sink. b. Solid chemicals, insoluble material, and filter paper are to be disposed of into the trash bin (not in the sink).

Emergency intercom

In each hallway across from the lab entrances is an intercom with a button and picture of a phone on it. This is a direct line to the Cerritos College campus safety.

shared areas in lab should..

Keep shared areas of the laboratory clean. This includes areas such as the balance room and the supply bench where the stock bottles are kept. It is especially important to keep the balance clean and free of chemical spills.

where do you store your belongings in the lab?

Keep your work area neat and clean. During the lab period, store your books and bags under your bench. Keep the area around your chair clear. Do not store belongings on top of the lab bench. Large book bags belong under the lab bench, smaller purses can be stored in a drawer, each lab bench has pullout writing spaces for notebooks.

Can you do any experiment you want in lab?

Only the authorized scheduled experiment can be performed in the lab. No unauthorized experiment is allowed.

what kind of accidents should you report in lab?

Report all accidents (chemical spill, broken glass, etc.) or injuries (burn, cut, chemical splash etc.) no matter how minor to the instructor immediately.

how to handle a burn?

Small burns from touching hot objects should be placed under running cold water for at least 20 minutes. Major burns need immediate medical attention.

how to handle cuts?

Small cuts should be rinsed and checked for broken glass. Bandages are available in the First-Aid Kit. If bleeding is extensive, apply pressure to the wound. Seek medical help immediately.

are students allowed in the lab?

Students are not permitted in the chemistry lab without the presence of the instructor. No student may work in the lab without the instructor's supervision.

Chemicals that come in contact with eyes or face

The eyewash station should be used if chemicals come in contact with eyes or face. Immediately flush your eyes with running water from an eyewash station for at least 15 minutes. Open the eyelids with fingers to force the eyes to stay open while flushing. If wearing contact lenses, wash the eyes once, remove the contacts, then continue washing for at least 15 minutes. Immediately seek medical attention.

what to do if theres an earthquake?

Turn off the gas valve and stay away from falling objects. Assess the situation. Drop and cover in a safe area. Follow the instructions from your instructor. Do not run or panic. Prepare to leave the building, if necessary.

when should you wash your hands?

Wash your hands as often as possible, especially before leaving the lab. Be careful not to touch your eyes or other body areas without thoroughly washing your hands first.

can you alter the lab?

You are not allowed to alter the procedure of the lab experiment. Carefully follow all instructions.

what to do when handling electrical equipment?

a. Avoid using any faulty equipment or damaged electric cords. Report it immediately to your instructor. b. Hands must be completely dry when handling electric plugs. Grasp the electrical plug (not the cord) when removing it from the socket. c. When using a hot plate make sure that the cord is not touching the hot surface of the hot plate. The cord will melt and may expose electrical wires.

Chemical Splash on Clothes or Body

a. For large chemical spills on the body get under the safety shower immediately, remove clothes and continue to shower for at least 15 minutes. Get the instructors attention. Further medical treatment may be needed. b. For smaller chemical spills on you, rinse with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Get the instructors attention immediately. Remember: water can also be obtained from drench hoses.

what to do when theres a fire?

a. When clothing catches fire, STOP, do not run as this increases the supply of air and increases the flames. DROP to the floor and ROLL on the floor to smother the flames. Do not run to the fire blanket. People around you may wrap you with a Fire Blanket to smother the flames and keep it away from your face and neck. Never use a fire extinguisher on a person! b. Turn off and secure all lab equipment. Let the instructor handle the Fire Extinguisher. Be prepared to leave the building if the situation escalates. c. Use a cover plate or a watch glass to cover small contained fires (for example, a chemical inside a beaker that has caught fire).

Before leaving the laboratory, ensure that:

a. Your desktop and work area is thoroughly clean. Use a wet paper towel for cleaning. b. Floor area, fume hoods, and sink area are clean; pick up all solids from the floor and the sink even they are not yours. c. All equipment in community drawer is complete and well organized. d. You wash your hands, and any other area of skin that has contacted lab equipment or lab benches such as your arms, just before leaving the lab.

what do you do if you do not understand the lab or what chemical to use?

ask the instructor (not your classmate).

what to do if there is a fire drill or earthquake or other emergency during a lab period?

containers must be closed, gas valves and electrical equipment must be turned off.

Emergency phone

found close to the safety shower and is attached to the wall for intramural calls and for connecting to campus police by dialing 911.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

found on the lab bench next to the exit door. This is used for neutralizing acid spills.

Spill kit

in a labeled cabinet in the lab. It is to be used for large chemical spills on the countertop or floor.

Fume Hoods

located around the perimeter of the room. These are used to exhaust toxic or noxious gases from the room.

Eye wash station

located below the safety shower. Also, there are at least two other eyewash stations at different locations in the lab. Each is connected to a length of pull-out hose. When the orange handle is squeezed, small fountains of water are directed upward.

Safety shower

located next to the lab entrance. When the handle is pulled down, water will be released to flush off the entire body and clothing in case of large serious chemical splashes.

Drench hose

located on several of the sinks in the lab. This can be used on chemical spills that are localized on smaller areas of the body. It can also be used as an eyewash.

First aid kit

on the lab bench next to the exit doors.

Red fire alarm

on the wall at eyelevel next to the fire extinguisher.

Fire extinguisher

stored in a compartment attached to the wall.

Fire blanket

stored inside a labeled red box attached to the wall next to the fire. extinguisher. The blanket is to be used on clothing that catches on fire. The blanket can also be used to cover a shock victim.

Emergency exits

there are two exit doors in each lab and two exit doors for the building. Be familiar with all lab and building exits to use in case of emergency evacuation.