Intro Lab Methods
CHEMICAL, FOOD, FORENSIC & ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
INTRO LAB METHODS
Laboratory Logbook
Report Sheets
This manual belongs to:
Updated Mar 2012
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Intro Lab Methods
CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter 1
Safety in the Laboratory
Chapter 4
Basic Laboratory Equipment
Chapter 5
Basic Laboratory Techniques
Chapter 6
Sampling
Chapter 7
Laboratory Measurements
Chapter 8
Gravimetric Analysis
Chapter 9
Volumetric Analysis
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Intro Lab Methods
INTRODUCTION
The Chemical, Food, Forensic & Environmental Technology (CFFET) section of the
Hunter Institute has developed this manual to help students evidence the knowledge,
skills and attitudes they are developing for scientific laboratory work. This manual is
designed to be used in conjunction with the text “Practical Laboratory Skills” (1995
Harcourt Aust) by Krajniak, Barker & Fullick.
Introductory Lab Methods is a general term used by this teaching section to describe
standard operating procedures in a typical science laboratory. Activities in this
manual have been designed to help candidates learn and practice skills necessary to
be deemed competent in some of the competency standards described in the
Laboratory Operations Training Package.
Introductory Lab Methods covers all the specified activities, defined in TAFENSW
curriculum, to develop general science laboratory competencies.
Log Book
This manual will serve as a log book of activities used for skills development and
summarises the actual performance of the individual named on the front cover.
This manual only provides brief introductory notes for each activity and it is expected
that the teacher and the textbook will provide more extensive details of basic theory
and the contexts in which the theory may be applied.
This manual provides suitable result sheets to record and report the laboratory
activities, observations and measurements made which summarise the learner’s
work. These completed result sheets will become part of the evidence of the
learner’s skills needed to assess competency.
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Intro Lab Methods
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Intro Lab Methods
Chapter 1
Safety in the Laboratory
Purpose:
This chapter is designed to provide a brief overview of occupational safety in the
laboratory. You will need to refer to the text for laboratory safety for additional
information.
Occupational health and safety laws have greatly improved safety and well being in
the workplace. All employers must provide safe and healthy work conditions, all
workers must work within the safety systems and both groups must accept
responsibility for identifying and controlling hazards and minimising risk of harm.
Any laboratory has a range of hazards which need to be controlled to minimise the
risk of harm.
What is a hazard?
What is risk?
What does hazard control mean?
What controls are available for different hazards?
Hazards in a laboratory can be grouped into only three categories:
1. Physical
eg
2. Chemical
eg
3. Biological
eg
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Intro Lab Methods
Chemicals can be hazardous because of a range of properties. They may be:
• toxic/poisonous
•
irritating
•
flammable
•
explosive
•
corrosive
•
mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic
Effects may be acute or chronic.
A chemical is only dangerous if it enters your body. This can only occur by:
•
inhalation
•
absorption
•
ingestion
•
injection
What controls exist for each of these chemical hazards?
The law (OH&S ACT & Regulation) now requires information sources about
hazardous chemicals to be supplied. They are called Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS) and they help you to find out about dangerous properties of chemicals and
what measures to take to reduce harmful effects.
Typically an MSDS gives information about:
• common names and identification codes for the material
• physical properties
• major hazards of the material
• acute and chronic symptoms of exposure
• exposure standards
• medical advice
• spill and other emergency responses
• others
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Intro Lab Methods
Laboratory hazards
physical
chemical
biological
Electrical
Explosives
Infective agents – bacteria,
viruses, etc
Mechanical
Corrosives
Animal and plant toxins
Manual handling
Flammable gases
Allergens
Cuts
Flammable liquids
Sensitisers
Burns
Flammable solids
Biological active substances
Radiation
Radioactivity
Compressed gases
Oxidisers
Mixes of the above
Dust
Mixes with other types of hazards
Confined space
Poisons
Note that there are acute vs chronic issues,
dose and response issues, exposure
standards, monitoring / awareness problems
Stress
Noise
Light
Control of laboratory hazards
Harm can be prevented by:
 Training,
 Supervision,
 Maintenance,
 Systems & Procedures
Harm can be cured by
 medical treatment,
 plastic surgery,
 antidotes,
 rest and recuperation
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Intro Lab Methods
Laboratory Safety Rules and Regulations
1. Always wash your hands before you leave the laboratory
2. Only supervised work is permitted in the laboratory
3. Chemicals and equipment are not to be taken from the laboratory
4. Safety glasses, laboratory coats and appropriate shoes must be worn in the
laboratory at all times
5. Clean-up spills immediately
6. Act responsibly - the laboratory is not a playground, racetrack or amusement
parlour
7. Long hair must be tied back
8. You must be aware of the location and operation of safety equipment
9. All accidents and incidents must be reported
10. Consult the MSDS for unfamiliar chemicals
11. Spillage of any chemical on the skin or eyes should be immediately treated with
copious quantities of water and the supervisor’s attention sought
12. Eating and drinking in the laboratory is banned
13. Fume cupboards should be used for work involving dangerous gases or vapours
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Intro Lab Methods
Practical work 1.1
Laboratory and building layout
Purpose
To become familiar with the layout of the work area, in particular, those areas and
pieces of equipment that deal with safety. This practical is designed to make you
aware of the common laboratory layouts within the building.
Practical work 1.2
Laboratory signs and labels
Purpose
To find and recognise the different signs, labels, display charts etc found in various
laboratories. This practical task is designed to further assist you with safety issues.
Practical work 1.3
Practical work 1.4
Laboratory hazard terminology
Laboratory safety systems
Purpose
These practicals are designed to help you become aware of hazards which exist
routinely in the laboratory and how best to manage them. Hazards in the laboratory
are everywhere and a competent worker is able to identify a hazard, determine the
risk of harm by the hazard and use the necessary controls and precautions.
Practical work 1.5
Simulated laboratory accidents
Purpose
You will be shown demonstrations of potential laboratory accidents and correct and
incorrect methods of dealing with them.
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Intro Lab Methods
Student Name:
Practical:
Laboratory Layout
Practical Number: 1.1
Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Text book References
Procedure:
Draw a map of the laboratory, which shows the location of the following features:
Fire extinguishers, fire exits, fire control equipment; special storage cupboards,
safety showers, eye wash stations, first-aid, fume cupboards, antidotes, laboratory
store, ovens, balances, waste disposal facilities.
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Intro Lab Methods
Student Name:
Practical:
Laboratory signs and labels
Practical Number: 1.2
Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Text book References
Procedure:
Observe the laboratory signs and labels in the laboratory and throughout the
building. Fill in the table below with at least six examples to show your understanding
of each column heading:
Sign identifier
eg exit, fire, no
smoking, etc
status of each
sign eg advisory,
mandatory, etc
message being Significant
conveyed
aspects of the
colour scheme
location
Questions:
Answer the following general questions about the signs and labels found in the
laboratory and surrounding areas
1. Why are signs important in the laboratory?
2. List:
• other signs and labels which you believe could be necessary
•
places in the laboratory where these missing signs should be located
3. Why do you think that smoking is not allowed within 10 metres of the building?
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Intro Lab Methods
Student Name:
Practical:
Laboratory hazards
Practical Number: 1.5
Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Text book References
Procedure:
Describe the hazards with the simulated accidents which you have found in the
laboratory and indicate how you can work safely with these hazards.
Results:
Hazard
Possible effects of hazard
Control measures
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Intro Lab Methods
EFFECT OF CONCENTRATED LABORATORY
CHEMICALS ON MEAT
AIM: To simulate the effect of concentrated laboratory reagents on living tissue
METHOD:
•
•
Observe as red meat pieces are placed into test tubes containing a volume of
each separate reagent.
Record observations of each meat sample at different time intervals.
OBSERVATIONS:
Initial
After 15 minutes
Next class
Hydrochloric
Acid
Sulfuric Acid
Nitric Acid
Sodium
Hydroxide
Ammonia
Propanone
DISCUSSION
1. Name one chemical which produces fumes in its concentrated form.
2. Describe the rule that must be followed when adding acids and water together.
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3. Why was red meat used with respect to the aim of this experiment?
4. List 4 safety precautions (including PPE) that should be followed when using
these experimental chemicals.
5. Which is more dangerous: concentrated acid or dilute acid? Why?
6. What should you do if a small amount of any of these chemicals is spilled
accidentally on your skin.
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Intro Lab Methods
ACID SPILL SCENARIO
TRUE / FALSE.
Scenario: you have just dropped a glass bottle containing concentrated sulfuric acid.
The following list of possible steps were written with the aim of cleaning up the spill.
Circle True or False as it applies to each statement.
i)
Dilute the spill with water, then mop up.
True / False
ii)
Alert surrounding students and the
teacher or lab staff immediately.
True / False
iii)
Soak spill up with an absorbent sponge or
paper towel.
True / False
iv)
Leave spilled acid where it is. It will soon
evaporate and disappear.
True / False
v)
Pour lots of the weak base (Sodium
Bicarbonate), located in the acid spill kit
onto the spill.
True / False
vi)
Pour lots of the strong base Sodium
Hydroxide onto the spill to neutralise it
and make it safe.
True / False
Place broken glass into the general
rubbish bin.
True / False
vii)
Observations/ notes:
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You will be assigned a chemical by your teacher – insert its name here:
For this chemical, find and read its MSDS sheet and identify:
(a)
major harmful effects
(b)
correct protective clothing
(c)
spillage control and disposal control
(d)
symptoms of acute and chronic exposure
(e)
exposure standards
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Indicate your course of action for each of the following situations.
(include clean-up procedures as required)
•
a fellow student has accidentally knocked over a bottle of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Some
of the acid has gone on the bench top, most on the floor with the broken bottle. The student has
acid on their legs.
•
a beaker containing 50 mL of salt water solution has broken. No-one has been injured but the
beaker is broken.
•
an unlabelled beaker is noticed left on a bench top.
•
a crucible is dropped onto the floor, from an 800oC muffle furnace.
•
you have been cleaning up broken glass when you notice blood coming from your hand.
•
a fellow student drips some hydrofluoric acid on their hands. (you will need to refer to the MSDS).
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