College Chemistry: Eizenga

General

• Any time you are in the lab while labs are being performed you MUST have goggles on! This is not only common sense; it is the law. If you are not wearing goggles (over your eyes), you will be asked to sit away from the lab area for period of time and will be fined $1. In many companies, not wearing goggles is grounds for being fired.

• Closed-toed shoes should be worn during lab. (No sandals)

• You are not allowed to eat or drink during lab.

• Several areas are off-limits to students unless given permission. The cabinets along the back wall, the instructors front table, and the storage room.

• When in a science room, you are not allowed to touch any equipment, chemicals, or other materials in the laboratory area until you are instructed to do so.

• Doing labs is fun, but horseplay and practical jokes are not a part of lab. You must follow the verbal and written directions of the instructor at all times. If you do not understand or are unsure of a procedure, you are expected to ask the instructor.

Heating Substances

• When you heat a beaker of water, the glassware & equipment used will get hot. (Imagine that!) Although they do not look hot, they will quickly burn you. Use the heat resistant gloves to handle hot glassware or equipment.

• In order to heat a substance, we will often use a Bunsen burner. Whenever the burner is lit, at least one person needs to be by it. If a fire is left unattended, all the lab partners will be asked to sit away from the lab for the remainder of the hour and be fined $1.

• Whenever you heat a test tube you should hold the tube at an angle, point the tube away from people and never look directly into it.

• If you have long hair, it is extremely important that you tie your hair back whenever you have a Bunsen burner lit. Hair is very flammable. Your instructor has rubber bands you can use to tie your hair back if you don’t have anything.

Handling Chemicals

• Be certain to read labels carefully to be certain that you are using the proper substance

• Once you have taken some of a substance, never return the unused part back to the original container, because it can contaminate the original substance. For each lab, your instructor will tell you how to dispose of waste or surplus materials. If you don’t remember what was said, or your instructor forgot to tell you, be sure to ask first.

• Never eat, smell, or touch a chemical in lab unless specifically instructed to do so. When instructed to smell a substance, never go directly over the object and breathe in deeply! Hold the object up near but in front of your nose and gently pull the vapors toward your nose with your hand. This is known as “wafting.

• After a lab you should always wash your hands. You may do this at the sinks on the back wall.

• Some people have allergies to specific chemicals that we may use in lab (for example, iodine) be sure to let your instructor know.

• If you have any medical condition (respiratory, open wound etc) that chemicals may affect, you should consult your physician before working in lab.

Accidents

• Report all accidents, such as spills or broken equipment, (even if you think it is little or no big deal) to your instructor.

• If you or your partner are hurt, immediately yell, “Code one! Code one!” to alert the instructor.

• If you were to have your clothes or hair start on fire, there are 2 possible responses.
  1) Use the hose at your station
  2) Wrap yourself in the Fire Blanket.
  Fooling with any of these safety devices will result in quick and severe punishment.

• If you get a chemical in your eyes, you should go immediately to the eye wash station. Push the lever with your elbow and blink or hold your eyelids open as the water runs for 20 min. At each lab station there is a hose that can be attached to the lab faucet and used as an eyewash station as well.

• If a major fire broke out in the lab, the instructor would use the fire extinguisher or fire blanket. If the instructor was unable to respond, and you think the fire is out of control, pull the firebox.

• It is possible to have some flammable liquids at your lab station start on fire. If a beaker starts on fire, follow these steps:
  #1 Don’t Panic – panic will likely result in a bigger problem.
  #2 Yell “Code one! Code one!
  #3 Clear the area – move any other flammable material (papers, chemicals) away.
  #4 The instructor will put a wet paper towel over it – this will block any more oxygen and the wet towel will not burn.