Lab 4: Safety In The Chemistry Lab
You will keep this packet, as notes. You will complete and turn in the second packet as your official lab
report.
Objective: You, the student, will be able to describe the lab policies and safety procedures to be followed while in the
chemistry laboratory.
Introduction: The chemistry laboratory is a dangerous place to be unless you are familiar with the safety rules. Even
when you are careful, accidents can still happen. Knowing how to avoid accidents and how to respond in emergency
situations will be vital to your safety in any situation. You will be given basic rules in this lab, and then additional rules
as they apply to specific labs later in the course.
RULES FOR LABORATORY
1)
2)
3)
4)
You must be on time to lab.
You must follow all safety procedures at all times.
You must be on task and carry your share of the labwork in your lab group.
You must wear clothing and shoes that protect your skin against chemical spills. Sandals may not be worn in lab.
Keep a pair of sneakers in your locker to change into.
A TYPICAL LAB PERIOD
1) You will pick up the new lab paper from the front of the room.
2) You will be given the background of the next lab and the procedures and safety precautions will be demonstrated
to you. Take notes if you have to, have the lab paper.
3) You and your partner will get goggles if directed, put them on, and start gathering equipment. There will a be 10point penalty for not wearing goggles when working in the lab.
4) You and your lab partner will work together to complete the lab. You will record any data in the provided data table
(AE will need to make their own data tables for labs from the lab manuals). All data must be recorded to the
correct place and have units after them.
5) You and your partner will clean up the lab station thoroughly upon completion of the lab, including the sink.
Chemical wastes will be disposed of as per teacher instruction. Filter paper, acid/base test papers and other
similar wastes will be disposed of in the red can disposal. Everything else can be disposed of in the regular
garbage can. Make sure to completely clean up the benchtop and dry it off.
6) Once all groups have completed the lab activity and cleaned up, goggles may be removed. They must be placed
back in the racks of the goggle cabinet. The cabinet shall then be closed and the ultraviolet light activated to kill
any germs that might be left behind on the goggles.
7) Begin the writeup. Draw graphs, solve problems, write answers. All students are to be thusly engaged until the
dismissal bell rings.
REGENTS REQUIRMENT FOR LABS
The New York State Department of Education has set a prerequisite of 1200 minutes of hands-on laboratory activity
with PASSING lab reports to sit for the Regents exam. This roughly corresponds to the actual time you have in lab this
semester, so turn all your lab reports in on time. LATE and INCOMPLETE LABS will be penalized 10 points up to one
day late, then 30 points thereafter. If you miss lab, arrange to make it up after school within FIVE SCHOOL DAYS of
your return (on a Tuesday, Wednesday or a Thursday). Bring someone to help you.
Part 1: Scavenger Hunt
Complete the chart on the next page with a partner. Search the lab room for the safety equipment noted on the sheet.
When you find the equipment, write down its purpose and directions for use. Also note on the map below the chart the
location of the piece of equipment.
© 2011, Mark Rosengarten
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Part 1: Scavenger Hunt
Item #
1
Item
Fire Extinguisher
2
Fire Blanket
3
First Aid Kit
4
Safety Shower
5
Spill Kit
6
Fume Hood
7
Eye Wash
8
Goggle Cabinet
9
Broken Glass
Crock
10
Red Disposal Can
11
Emergency Phone
Numbers
What it’s used for
How to use
p
© 2011, Mark Rosengarten
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Part 2: First Aid Techniques
Complete as teacher reviews information:
Injury
Safe Response
Burns
Cuts & Bruises
Fainting or collapse
(including electric shock)
Foreign matter in eye
Poisoning
Severe bleeding
Spills on skin
Part 3: Video: Accident at Jefferson High
This video, though somewhat outdated and corny, does a very good job at demonstrating the proper techniques for lab
safety. As you watch the video, list a minimum of five safety rules or procedures shown:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
2) As you watch the video, also be on the lookout for people who do unsafe things. List at least four unsafe practices
that you saw.
1
2
3
4
5
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© 2011, Mark Rosengarten
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BASIC LAB SAFETY RULES
(other safety precautions will be given as necessary)
1) Wear goggles at ALL TIMES while lab activity is going on. 10-point penalty if you are seen with goggles off.
2) Know the locations of and how to use all safety equipment that you identified in the Scavenger Hunt.
3) Securely tie your hair back if it reaches to your shoulders or beyond. Also watch for long bangs.
4) ABSOLUTELY no food or drink in the laboratory. If it is seen, it will be confiscated and 10 points deducted.
5) NEVER taste or smell a chemical in the lab. You may be directed to observe odors in some labs, you may smell a
substance if directed to.
6) Do only the experiments assigned and in the manner prescribed. No unauthorized “experiments” or procedures
allowed.
7) ALWAYS read the directions before beginning the lab. Make sure to check off each step in the lab as you do it.
8) Clothing should cover the body to protect skin from harmful chemicals. Sandals are prohibited, as is clothing that
does not adequately cover the body.
9) ALWAYS use a wafting motion (pushing with you hand towards your nose) if directed to smell a substance.
10) NEVER fill a pipet by mouth.
11) ALWAYS notify the teacher immediately of any accident, no matter how small. Burns, cuts and spills must be
dealt with right away to minimize their health effects.
12) NEVER touch anyone else’s blood.
13) ALWAYS use the red disposal can to discard matches, filter paper or used chemicals as instructed by the teacher.
14) NEVER put excess chemical back into its original stock container. This will contaminate the source. Follow
directions for disposal of excess chemicals, which may vary from lab to lab.
15) NEVER place a cap to a chemical container rim down on the lab counter. Contamination can occur. When
pouring liquid chemical into another container, hold the cap in the hand you are not pouring with.
16) When finished with a container of chemicals, ALWAYS put the cap back on securely right away.
17) Always check, then double-check the labels of the chemicals before you use them.
18) ALWAYS Hold and pour from bottles with your palm covering the label. Any drippage will go down the other side.
19) ALWAYS point the open end of a test tube away from yourself or others, especially when heating the test tube.
20) ALWAYS move a test tube through the Bunsen burner flame up and down the sample of substance to evenly heat
it.
21) When diluting acids with water, ALWAYS add the acid to the water slowly and while stirring. “Do it like you oughta,
add the acid to the water!”
22) ALWAYS Dispose of chipped or broken glassware in the broken glass crock using the dustpan and broom,
NEVER in the regular trash or red disposal can and NEVER with your fingers.
© 2011, Mark Rosengarten
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© 2011, Mark Rosengarten
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Lab 4: Safety In The Chemistry Lab
Name:
Group:
Minutes:
Grade:
1) Teacher Checks: As you complete each part of the lab, the teacher will sign off on its completion:
Part 1: Scavenger Hunt
Part 2: First Aid
Part 3: Accident At Jefferson High
Questions (to be completed on another piece of paper in complete sentences):
1) What is the correct procedure for diluting concentrated acids with water?
2) Your lab partner is not wearing goggles!
a) What is the penalty if the teacher notices this?
b) Oh no! Your partner splashed some chemical and it got into their eyes! What can you do to help? (Laughing
is not going to help)
3) A test tube breaks on the lab table. What steps should you take to clean up and dispose this broken glass?
4) In cleaning up after lab, where should you dispose of used or excess chemicals?
5) In cleaning up after lab, where should matches, filter paper or similar items that have touched chemicals be
disposed?
6) What do you think is the most important safety rule to follow in the laboratory? Explain why you chose the rule that
you did.
7) What requirements must be met in lab in order for you to take the Physical Setting: Chemistry Regents exam?
8) What is our late lab policy?
9) What happens if you turn a lab in with questions unanswered?
10) If you are absent for lab, when should you make up the missed lab?
Be sure to complete the lab equipment crossword puzzle on the back of this
page. You may use the diagram on page 5 to assist you.
© 2011, Mark Rosengarten
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© 2011, Mark Rosengarten
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