AP Chemistry Notes/Chemistry Notes – Lab Safety
I. INTRODUCTION
Chemistry is a laboratory science. As part of your laboratory experience you will be asked to handle
many chemical substances, manipulate specialized laboratory equipment, and safely carry-out many
techniques and procedures specific to a chemistry laboratory. Many of these substances pose a health
risk if handled improperly, while some laboratory equipment and techniques can cause severe injury if
used/carried-out improperly. This unit will serve as a guide to safe laboratory practices you should use
throughout the course.
II. PREPARATION AND SAFETY
Preparation is important not only to understanding, but most importantly to safety. If you are prepared
for a laboratory it is much less likely that a laboratory accident will occur. To get the most out of your
laboratory experience, you must be well prepared for each experiment by…
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Reading the experiment thoroughly before coming to class
Be sure you have a clear idea of what the experiment is about
Be sure you understand each step of the procedure. DO NOT deviate from the procedure
unless instructed to do so by your instructor.
Ask your teacher if you have questions what the experiment is about or procedure questions.
Be sure to note safety warnings and safety precautions listed in the safety section of each
laboratory.
Follow ALL laboratory rules outlined in your “CKHS Student Safety Contract.” You are
expected to take the contract home, read it, have your parent(s)/guardian(s) read it, sign it
(and have a parent/guardian sign it) then return it to me. The safety exam you take will
include questions that refer to the rules in the safety contract.
Start the year by viewing the ACS Laboratory Safety Video.
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III. LABORATORY HAZARDS AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
There are hazards that exist in the chemistry laboratory. This section will acquaint you with safety
hazards and indicate what you can do to avoid these hazards. In all these cases, if the situation is
serious, I may ask you to call 911.
SITUATION
AVOIDING SITUATION
Thermal Burn
Hold you hand near an item to feel
for heat before touching it.
Chemical Burn (Spills on Skin)
Wear safety goggles and apron
during all phases of the laboratoryeven during clean up.
Do not wear open toed shoes
Fainting
Fire
A fire may occur if chemicals are mixed
improperly or flammable materials come
to close to a burner or hot plate
Poisoning
SAFE RESPONSE
Inform instructor immediately
Immediately flush with cold water until
burning sensation subsides
Eye Exposure
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Inform instructor immediately
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Remove contacts and flush eye(s) with
running water for 20 minutes.
Skin Exposure
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Inform instructor immediately
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Using sink or emergency shower - flush
exposed area with running water for 20
minutes.
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Inform instructor Immediately
Provide fresh air (open a window). Move
the person so that the head is lower
than the rest of the body and initiate
CPR if necessary.
Fire on the Laboratory Bench
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Inform instructor Immediately
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Turn off all accessible gas outlets.
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Use fire extinguisher
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Follow all laboratory procedures
Tie your hair back
Do not ever reach over, around or
any where near an open flame!
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Do not touch chemicals
Never eat, chew gum or drink in
the lab area.
Never smell substances unless
directed to do so by your
instructor. Then ONLY use the
proper “wafting” technique.
Carry out labs that produce
toxic or noxious gases in one of
the fume hoods.
Wash hands before leaving
laboratory.
Hair or Clothes Catch Fire
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Inform instructor Immediately
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Stop – Drop – Roll
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Use Fire Blanket to smother fire.
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Inform instructor Immediately
Minor Cuts
Always discard chipped and cracked
glassware
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Chemical Spills
Always work cautiously
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Inform instructor Immediately
Acid Spill
Neutralize spills with baking soda (NaHCO3)
Base Spill
Neutralize spills with baking soda (NaHCO3)
or acetic acid (vinegar).
Inform instructor Immediately
Allow to bleed for a short time.
Carry out necessary first aid.
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IV. SAFETY EQUIPMENT, FIRE EXITS, AND THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
Here is a list of the safety equipment that we have in our laboratory. You should know what each piece
of equipment is, its use, and where it is found in the classroom.
Safety Equipment:
Equipment
Goggles
Aprons
Eye Wash
Picture
Use
Protect eyes
Protect skin (and clothing) from exposure
to chemicals.
Rinse eyes of chemicals and/or foreign
materials.
Safety Shower
Rinse the body free from chemicals.
First Aid Kit
Fire Blanket
Carry-out minor first aid.
Extinguish small fires on the desktop or
hair or clothes fires.
Fume Hood
Carry out experiments that use or
produce noxious or toxic fumes. Fumes
are immediately removed to the outside
of the building.
Fire Extinguisher(s)
Extinguish small fires on the desktop.
Master Gas Shut-Off
Telephone
Material Safety Data Sheets
Shuts off the gas to the entire classroom.
Call 911 when directed by the instructor.
Provides information on the chemical and
physically properties of chemicals we use
and provides information of treating
The primary escape route in the event of
a fire.
The escape route in the event of a fire
that should only be used if the primary
route is not accessible.
Primary Fire Exit Route (10)
Secondary Fire Exit Route (20)
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CLASSROOM MAP
School Track
Back Door
Aprons
Fire Extinguisher
Safety Shower
Chemical Storage Area
Eye Wash
Safety
Goggles
0
1 Fire Exit Route
Fume
Hood
First Fire Blanket
Aid
Kit
MSDS
Sheets
Fume
Hood
Room 324
Front
Bench
Fume
Hood
Master
Gas
Shut-off
(under sink)
Telephone
Front Door
Fire Alarm
20 Fire Exit Route
FIRE/ FIRE DRILLS:
Leave the room in an orderly manner using the 10 fire exit route (if blocked use the 20 fire exit route).
IN THE EVENT OF AN EARTHQUAKE
-Duck, Cover (under desks, in doorway), Hold
-Do not leave cover until directed to do so by your instructor or administrator.
-When directed to do so by your teacher, proceed to the track and meet your ________ period teacher.
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V. COMMON LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AND THEIR USES THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
A. Equipment to Contain Solids and Liquids (NOT MEASURE)
B. Equipment to Measure or Deliver a Given Volume of a Liquid
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C. Miscellaneous Equipment You Should Know
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VI. COMMON LABORATORY TECHNIQUES/PRACTICES THAT YOU WILL BECOME FAMILIAR
WITH AND WILL LEARN TO SAFELY CARRY-OUT THIS YEAR:
1. a) Transferring Liquids from a Reagent Bottle
b) Transferring Solids from a Reagent Bottle
2. Filtering and Decanting a Mixture (Precipitate)
3. Using a Gas Burner
4. Heating a Sample
-Test Tube
-Beaker
-Evaporating Dish
-Crucible
5. Using an Electronic Balance – Massing out a Solid
6. Using a Pipet (Including using a Safety Bulb)
7. Making Acid Solution (Add Acid)
8 . Titrating Techniques (Acid Base and Redox)
9. Safely Working with a Thermometer
10. Safely Working with a Centrifuge
11. Reading and Using a Graduated Cylinder or Burette
12. Properly Disposing of Chemicals After an Experiment.
13. Properly Preparing and Labeling Chemical Solutions
-Using a Solid Reagent
-Diluting a Stock Solution
14. Using Test Paper (pH)
15. Using Lab Tongs
16. Collecting a Gas Via Water Displacement
17. Recording Measurements and Carrying-Out Arithmetic Using the Appropriate Number
of Significant Figures
18. Carrying Laboratory Equipment and Chemicals
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