AP Chem Lab Safety
Draw an outline of the classroom/lab and identify the location(s) of the safety equipment.
(on sheet)
What type of shoes are appropriate for the lab? Inappropriate?
- closed leather shoes are appropriate for the lab -open toe shoes are NOT (cannot protect feet) -shoes made from cloth or woven material can absorb spills and harmful chemicals- not appropriate
Can any thermometer be used for heating any liquid? Explain.
- high heat such as inside the flame of a Bunsen burner= do NOT use mercury or alcohol thermometer because it will explode -But for most lab experiments, mercury and alcohol thermometers work great
What should you do with leftover chemicals after an experiment? What should you do with the products of an experiment?
- pour the leftover chemicals in the proper waste container -pour the products in their proper waste container
Is the laboratory a safe place to eat, drink, or put on makeup? Why or why not?
-No, because the chemicals could contaminate your food, drink, or makeup -get rid of these items before you get to the lab
What is the most important lab rule of them all?
-Not to fool around -do not run, push, or wrestle in the lab
Where should you keep your personal belongings that you bring to the lab?
-do not keep them in the isles because people can trip over them -put them away
What do you do if you spill corrosive chemicals on you or your clothing?
-if its just on your arm/hand, wash it off in the sink with plenty of water -if it is all over you, take off your clothes and rinse your body in the safety shower -stay under the shower for at least 15 minutes
Before hooking a Bunsen burner to the gas line, what should you look for?
-look for cracks in the hose and get a new one if you find any -make sure the connections are tight and the valve at the bottom is open
How should you insert glass tubing into a rubber stopper if you don't have an inserter? How can you protect your hands?
-lubricate the tubing and push it gently into the stopper, rotating if there is any resistance - use leather gloves to protect your hands
Describe the right type of shirts to wear in the lab
-sleeves and shirts that fit fairly close, but aren't too tight to restrict movement -fabrics made of cotton or wool that won't melt works best
Name at least two dangers of wearing the wrong type of shirt in the lab.
-sleeves that are too loose can drag through a chemical puddle or knock things over -synthetic material melts when heated and sticks to the skin -fuzzy sweaters catch on fire easily
How do you extinguish a small fire in a container? What should you do if you have a larger fire?
-small fires in a container= cover the container and turn off the gas -larger fires= fire extinguisher operated by the teacher or clear out of the building and call the fire department
If using a match, when do you turn the gas on? Why?
-strike the match away from you, then turn on the Bunsen burner, then light it from the side -you turn the gas on after you light the match so that gas will not escape while you light the match
What should you do if you cut yourself in the lab?
-wash off the cut and make sure there is no glass inside of it -dry your skin and have your teacher apply a bandage to it -get medical attention after any injury in the lab
Describe what you should do if you get a chemical in your eye?
-wash them immediately in the eye wash station -hold your eyes open and roll them around to the water washes them -wash for at least 15 minutes and see a doctor to check for damage
What ways can you safely carry a heated object?
-you can hold hot glassware with beaker tongs or protective gloves -carry it away from you
What is the easiest part of the body to injure in the lab? How do you protect them?
-your eyes -do not wear contacts -always wear goggles with side shields
List two ways to properly heat a test tube?
1. they can be heated in a water bath 2. heated directly over the flame- moving it back and forth to distribute heat evenly
Why is it important to remove rings and watches before working in the lab?
Because they could trap corrosive chemicals against your skin and damage the jewelry
How can you protect your hands when working with corrosive chemicals?
By wearing gloves that your teacher instructs you to
What is one of the most common causes of injury in the laboratory?
Cuts from broken glass, especially glass tubing
If you spill a liquid chemical, what should you do? What is done with the residue after a spill?
First get away from the spill and then tell your teacher so they can clean it up. The teacher will pour an absorbent around the spill, mop or sweep it up, and dispose of it in the proper waste container.
Why should loose, long hair be tied back?
Hair could knock something over and catch fire if it is not held back
If a thermometer breaks, what should you do?
Let your teacher clean it up and dispose of it properly
Is it safe to use glassware that has cracks or stars? Explain.
No, because it could explode or break when its heated
Is it safe to heat flammable chemicals (e.g., gasoline) with a Bunsen burner?
No, it is never safe to heat flammable chemicals. Instead, heat it in a heating mantle or a steam bath.
Can you distinguish between hot and cold glass or metal?
No, so treat everything like it is hot if it has been around a Bunsen burner
Is it safe to heat a sealed container? Explain.
No, the gas must be able to escape and if it doesn't the glass will explode form pressure.
Do lab thermometers have to be shaken down like medical thermometers?
No, they should not be shaken
Why should you pay careful attention to your surroundings at all times when in the lab?
Pay attention because if you do not, you could injure yourself or others permanently such as blindness
What size container should you use to dispense chemicals?
Small containers that you can control easily
When you read the label on a chemical container, what are three important pieces of information?
The concentration, the hazard warning, and the name of the chemical
What are the last steps in properly performing a lab
The last steps are to clean up. -glassware should be rinsed and cleaned -wipe down your workspace and dispose of the paper towels properly -clean chemicals off your hands by washing them
Describe some measures to extinguish a clothing fire.
You can: -stand under the safety shower -stop, drop, and roll -cover yourself with a safety blanket
What precautions should you take with volatile (flammable) chemicals?
You should work with it under a fume hood
Should you add acid to water or water to acid?
add acid to water
How do you adjust the size of the flame?
by turning the bottom valve
Describe a proper flame.
it should be blue with a lighter inner cone
What did the girl who had chemical splash in her eye do wrong?
she was not wearing her safety goggles
How are flat bottomed containers usually heated?
they are heated on a wire screen on a ring stand
How do you secure an Erlenmeyer flask for heating?
they should be secured to the stand with a clamp
If your flame sputters or goes out, what should you do?
turn off the gas immediately
If you smell gas in the room, what should you do?
turn the gas off
How many times should you read this information before you open the container?
twice before you open the container
How are uncontaminated waste paper and broken glass properly disposed of?
uncontaminated waste paper goes in a regular trash can and broken glass goes in the glass waste bin
Describe the proper type of pants/skirts to wear in the lab.
wear long pants or a long skirt to protect your legs