MSDS LAB
Problem: How do scientists work safely in a lab?
Focus Question: A student who is not wearing safety goggles
during a laboratory investigation gets some chemical in his
eyes. What proper lab procedures should he follow to remove
the chemical from his eyes?
Use the following scenario to answer questions 1–3 about safety procedures.
Scenario
While working in the laboratory, student A is carrying an open container of acid
and accidentally splashes some of the acid on the front of student B’s shirt.
Student C, seated nearby, stands up and bumps into student A. Acid splashes
onto student C, and now the acid is burning part of his left hand.
1. Which of the personal protective equipment at this station should the student
wear during an investigation when hazardous chemicals are used? Explain how
the personal protective equipment could have protected students B and C in this
scenario.
2. Which of the following procedures should student C follow when splashed by
the acid?
(A) Go immediately to the teacher and explain what happened and who
caused the accident.
(B) Run to the emergency safety shower, activate the water, and rinse the
area splashed with acid for 15 minutes.
(C) Yell loudly and wait until the teacher comes to you and tells you what to
do next.
(D) Quickly wipe off the acid from your hand and forearm with a paper towel
and dispose of the towel in the wastebasket.
3. Examine the safety goggles and safety glasses at the station. Explain which
one protects your eyes the best and why you would want to have these on if a
harmful chemical splashed onto your face.
4. Which of the following procedures should you follow when another student is
injured during a fire in the laboratory room?
(A) Try to put out the fire with water or smother the flames with an
emergency fire blanket.
(B) Run to the principal’s office and report that there is a fire in the science
room.
(C) Yell loudly to alert the teacher and listen for the teacher’s directions.
(D) Sit quietly at your workstation until the fire has been put out.
Use the laminated MSDS and chemical labels to answer the following questions.
5. A student at your laboratory table is using a Bunsen burner to heat a beaker
of water. Would it be safe for the other laboratory team at your table to use
methanol at the same time?
6. What first aid measures would you take if a student drinks some dilute
Hydrochloric acid ?
7. What are the target organs that would be affected if a student swallowed
some Phenol ?
8. What is the greatest hazard warning for Magnesium ?
9. If a student ingested some Iodine solution , what measures should you take
with that student?
10. What is the flashpoint of Xylene ?
11. What is the common name of Ascorbic Acid ?
12. With what does Zinc react to produce hydrogen gas?
13. What other chemicals have the same hazard rating as Cobalt Chloride ?
14. What is the chemical formula for potassium permanganate?
15. What should you avoid when working with Toluene?
TAKS REVIEW QUESTIONS
1)When a 10% hydrochloric acid solution is heated in an open test tube, the test tube
should always be pointed —
A so bubbles are visible
B at a 180° angle from the flame
C toward a ventilated area
D away from nearby people
2)The reason for wafting or fanning a small amount of chemical vapors toward the nose
as a means to detect odors in a test tube is to —
A avoid experimental error from excessive loss of mass of reactants or products
B avoid splashing chemicals into the face of any person
C protect the respiratory tract against potentially harmful vapors
D determine the relative strength of the odor before smelling directly
3)Laboratory equipment is cleaned and properly stored after use primarily so that —
A chemical products can be measured and recorded as data
B time is saved in setting up the next experiment
C toxic materials can be kept in the laboratory
D the possibility of contamination in the laboratory is minimized
4)The safest way to dilute concentrated sulfuric acid is to add —
A a series of small volumes of water to the acid while stirring
B the acid to water slowly while stirring constantly
C the acid to a small volume of water and then add more water
D dilute sulfuric acid to a small volume of the concentrated
acid
6) This picture indicates that the chemical
represented is —
F pressurized
G corrosive
H flammable
J toxic
7)The anatomy of grasshoppers is being studied in a dissection lab. Working in groups of
three, students make observations using a hand lens, forceps, and a scalpel. Two of the
students in a group have finished their observations. These two students may do all of
the following except —
A remove their goggles
B review their notes
C wash their hands
D assist their lab partner