Chem Safety Quiz

handling reagents

1. Carefully read the label twice or three times on any reagent bottle and double check instructions before using any chemical. be sure that it is correct reagent to be used in the experiment. 2. Read and follow any directions on the chemical labels. 3. Do not remove the reagent bottles transfer the reagent to your container at the designated area, and replace the bottle in its proper position with the lid on. 4. Handle lids properly so as to avoid contamination of reagent or countertop. If possible, hold lid or stopper in same hand as bottle while pouring to eliminate possibility of putting wrong lid on bottle. if you are not sure which lid or stopper belongs on the solution bottle, rinse it with four small portions of deionized water before putting it on the bottle. 5. never put unused or excess chemicals back into reagent bottles, and never put any pipets, spatulas, wodden sticks, droppers, etc. into reagent bottles. 6. Pour liquids and solutions out of bottles w. label on bottle towards palm of your hands so that any drips will be on side opposite the label.

chemical hazards

1. always wash your hands w/ water at end of laboratory period to remove any water soluble chemicals that you may have inadvertently contacted w/ your hands. 2. do not drink water from any of the faucets in the laboratory or from your wash bottles. do not eat any ice that is being used in the laboratory. 3. never taste chemicals in laboratory. 4. always work under exhaust hoods at rear of laboratory when directed to do so in an experiment. if you are not sure whether undesirable fumes will be produced, ask instructor. 5. when determining the odor of gas, hold container far away and gently wave some of gas towards your nose w/ other hand. gradually move container closer to your nose. do not breathe deeply when checking odor. (some people can't detect odor of sulfur dioxide, don't keep trying to detect odor of this gas. if you notice a fellow student trying and you at a greater distance have no trouble detecting it, tell the student.) 6. avoid contact of chemicals w/ your skin, as many toxic chemicals can be absorbed through skin. For example do not put finger or thumb over mouth of a test tube even when shaking. if any chemicals come in contact with your body or clothes, rinse off immediately w/ large amounts of water. (there are emergency showers located inside the stockroom.) check w/ instructor for appropriate follow-up treatment. 7. in case of accidental chemical spill or vapor release, notify instructor and prepare to leave laboratory, if necessary. 8. do not leave spilled chemicals on countertops or on the floor. neutralize spilled acids or sodium hydroxide solutions with NaHCO3, container above each sink. Then mop up spill with paper towels. use caution if any broken glass, consult instructor for help.

Safety Procedures

1. always wear safety glasses 2. do not perform any unauthorized experiments 3. report any accident, however minor, to the instructor at once 4. never point a test tube that you are heating or doing a reaction in, at yourself or anyone else 5. Never taste chemical reagents. 6. always clean up drips and spills immediately 7. if any chemical solution is spilled on skin or eyes, flush immediately with large amounts of water for 15 minutes. consult instructor. 8. if acid or base spills on your skin or clothes, flush w/ water then neutralize with NaHCO3. Never attempt to neutralize anything in your eyes.

burns

1. do not touch bunsen burners except at the base as the barrel can become very hot. Also be careful with iron rings as they can stay hot for a long time. 2. glass tubing that has been heated in a flame should always be left cool on a wire gauze. allow sufficient time for cooling and then check very carefully to see if it is still hot. )first check amount of warm air raising from glass. if air isn't too hot, start at the cool end by touching the glass momentarily and waiting to see if too much heat reaches the nerves. If it doesn't seem too hot, move closer to the hotter end or maintain contact with glass for a slightly longer period of time.) 3. for minor burns on fingers, quickly immerse burned region in ice water and keep it in ice for 15 minutes. It is your responsibility to make sure that there is ice available in the tub by stockroom door or under hood before you light a burner.

glassware

1. exchange any broken, chipped, or cracked glassware for a replacement. (examine spouts of beakers and rims of test tubes very carefully for chip) do not nest beakers as this is the leading cause of chipped spouts. 2. for glassware which is "dirty" with dilute solution, rinse glassware w/ four minimal portions of deionized water. only rinse w/ a wash bottle (w/ lid fastened securely). only was bottles should be fill at the deionized water (dw) faucet. Rinsing should always be down at your sink. 3.for glassware which contained a concentrated solution, rinse once or twice w/ tap water and rinse as described above w/ dw. for test tube which have had a precipitate in them, clean with tap water and your test tube brush then rinse as described above w/ dw. 4. be sure that all pieces of glass tubing have been fire-polished by holding ends of the tubing in the burner flame until the glass has melted enough to smooth the edges. 5. always lubricate holes on rubber stoppers with glycerol before inserting glass tubing (fire-polished) or thermometers (unless specifically given other instructions.) use the rubber safety grips when inserting or removing tubing or thermometers from rubber stoppers.

emergencies

1. if building is on fire, turn off gas jets and leave building in an orderly manner. you may have to go through balance room and exit through a different room, or you may have to exit through the stockroom or window. you must leave building if fire alarm sounds. 2. in case of an earthquake or nuclear attack, turn off all gas jets and get away from window. crouch down in central aile and protect head and neck. do not walk or run from room or building. put NaHCO3 on any spilled solutions on floor to prevent burns from acids or caustic (basic) solutions.

fires

1. know locations of fire extinguisher in laboratory and know how to use them. aim them at base of fire, not at flames, to separate air from fuel. make sure there is always an escape route (exit) behind you. 2. be sure that plastic (not rubber latex) tubing is firmly attached to bunsen burner at work station and be sure to turn off gas completely as soon as you are through using the burner. protect the tubing to the burner from the flame and any hot objects. inform your instructor if plastic tubing appears cracked, blackened, or burned. 3. do not allow used paper towels to gather in work area. and never use paper to light a burner. 4. only light burners w/ strikers. replace the flint when it is worn down to the metal and remember to not put them in your drawer. keep strikers on center shelf. 5. small fire due to burning liquid in container should never be moved and can usually be smothered w/ wet paper towel over container. do not spill. do not panic or do anything sudden w/o thinking.

waste disposal

1. most solids should be discarded in the trash receptacles underneath the sinks. (this includes chewing gum, which should first be wrapped in small piece of paper.) some water0soluble compounds may be washed down the drains, but most solids (litmus paper, boiling stones, sulfur, metals, etc.) should not be thrown into sinks. 2. waste acids and bases should be poured into sink and flushed down drain with large amounts of water. Solutions w/ strong odors should be poured into sink under exhaust hoods and flushed w/ large amounts of water. 3. certain experiments may generate waste that requires special disposal methods. please follow directions given w/ experiments. you will be asked to pour your material into a collection container and it will be disposed of professionally.

general rules

1. no eating, drinking, smoking is permitted in laboratory or anywhere inside chem building. 2. shoes and appropriate clothing must be worn in laboratory. sandals, shorts, etc. do not provide sufficient protection in event of an accident. avoid wearing expensive clothing in lab as there are many possibilities for damage. (aprons can be provided upon request) 3. no unauthorized experiments or unsupervised laboratory work is permitted. if you are curious and wish to do an experiment which is not assigned, you must get permission from the instructor. An unauthorized experiment at Bakersfield College in early 1960s resulted in an explosion that caused extensive damage to a student's eye. 4. visitors and children are not allowed in laboratory. if someone needs to talk to you, you should go outside and talk to them there. 5. report any accident, no matter how minor, to the instructor. 6. never leave your experiment unattended when there is a hazard such as a lit burner. 7. before you leave laboratory, always clean your work area, lock your drawer, and make certain water and gas are shut off.

academic honesty

1. primary data are measurements and readings taken in laboratory, and the observations made during experiments. all primary data is to be recorded according to the following: a. directly on experiment sheets b. at the time that measurement or observations is made c. in permanent (non-erasable) waterproof ink neatness is less important than each of three items above. 2. integrity of primary data is an important aspect of honesty in scientific experimentation. primary data should not be fabricated or altered. if you make a mistake in a measurement, line out the entire number w/ one line and write correct number nearby. do not write over any number, change, or attempt to change on digit into another as this can result in future mistakes in interpretation. if your pen skips or malfunctions, draw one line through the data and rewrite data nearby. 3. any fabrication or data or other forms of academic dishonesty will be dealt with as seriously in laboratory as it is in lecture. possible punishments are no credit for experiment, a large loss of points, being dropped from class or expulsion from college.

eye safety

1. safety glasses must be worn at all times when any experiments are being done. this is required by california federal laws. safety glass should provide protection from the sides as well as the front. safety glasses must meet ANSI Z87.1 specifications. normal prescription glasses are not satisfactory. you may not wear tinted safety glasses in the lab. 2. if any chemicals get in your eyes, immediately rinse your eyes with water and continue to rinse for at least 15 minutes. if you are wearing contact lenses remove them as quickly as possible so that no chemical will remain trapped between the lenses and your eyes. (most chemical laboratories will not allow workers to wear contact lenses because of this hazard and b/c they can absorb fumes.) know the location of the three eyewashes, but also remember that your sink may be the fastest way to begin rinsing. 3. always keep your face at a distance from any glass container which is being heated or in which a reaction is occurring. when heating a substance in a test tube, always direct the mouth of the tube away from yourself and nearby people. aim the tube along the center of the counter top. heat top of the solution not bottom of test tube to avoid rapid expulsion of hot liquid out of the top of the tube. 4. do not look directly at burning magnesium or at any electrical arc.