An Introduction to
Basic Skills and Procedures
1) Lab Equipment
Refer to Handouts
– Laboratory Equipment Handout
2) Lab Safety
a) General Rules
– Fires
– Splashes
– Broken Glass
2) Lab Safety
2) Lab Safety
2) Lab Safety
b) Safety Equipment
What are 5 pieces of Safety Equipment in
a Science Classroom?
1) Eye Wash – used to wash harmful
chemicals from your eyes
2) First Aid Kit – used to help treat minor
injuries
3) Water Taps – Can be used to wash
harmful chemicals
- can also be used to
extinguish fires
4) Fire Extinguisher – used to put out fires.
5) Fume Hood – used to remove harmful
fumes from the area. These are usually
vented directly outside.
WHMIS
Stands for “Workplace Hazardous Materials
Information System.”
Consists of 3 Main Parts.
A) Labels
1) Supplier Labels
– Are provided by the companies that produce
and distribute the chemicals
– Contain information about the product and
safety instructions for safe handling.
– They also use safety symbols
2) Workplace Labels – are used by working
environments (such as schools that have
chemicals in them).
B. MSDS
Stands for “Material Safety Data Sheets.”
Provides detailed information about the
chemicals being used such as: melting
point, boiling point, physical and chemical
characteristics, possible reactions, risk
phrases, safe-handling procedures, etc.
C. Symbols
There are:
• 8 Symbols
• 6 Classes
Class D has
3 Divisions
What substances might
belong in each
category?
What risks and cautions
might be associated
with each category?
C. Symbols
CLASS A: COMPRESSED GAS
This class includes compressed gases, dissolved
gases, and gases liquefied by compression or
refrigeration.
CLASS B: FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE
MATERIAL
This class includes solids, liquids, and gases capable
of catching fire in the presence of a spark or open
flame under normal working conditions.
CLASS C: OXIDIZING MATERIAL
These materials increase the risk of fire if they come
in contact with flammable or combustible materials.
C. Symbols
CLASS D 1 : POISONOUS AND INFECTIOUS MATERIAL
Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects
These materials can cause death or immediate injury when a
person is exposed to small amounts. Examples: sodium cyanide,
hydrogen sulphide
CLASS D 2 : POISONOUS AND INFECTIOUS MATERIAL
Materials Causing Other Toxic EFFECTS
These materials can cause life-threatening and serious long-term
health problems as well as less severe but immediate reactions in
a person who is repeatedly exposed to small amounts.
CLASS D 3 : POISONOUS AND INFECTIOUS MATERIAL
Biohazardous Infectious MATERIAL
These materials contain an organism that has been shown to
cause disease or to be a probable cause of disease in persons or
animals.
C. Symbols
CLASS E: CORROSIVE MATERIAL
This class includes caustic and acid materials that can
destroy the skin or eat through metals. Examples:
sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid
CLASS F: DANGEROUSLY REACTIVE MATERIAL
These products may self-react dangerously (for
example, they may explode) upon standing or when
exposed to physical shock or to increased pressure or
temperature, or they emit toxic gases when exposed
to water.
Graphing Rules
1) Identify the independent and the
dependent variables.
a) Independent is the variable that the
experimenter changes (usually time) and
is always plotted on the x-axis.
b) Dependent variable is the variable that
changes as a result of the experiment
and is always plotted on the y-axis.
2) Label each axis with the name of the variable
and the unit.
3) Title your graph (ex. A Graph of Dependent vs.
Independent)
4) Include your name, date, class, and period on
the top right hand corner of your graph.
5) Choose your scale carefully and make your
graph as large as possible.
6) It is NOT necessary that the graph always go
through the origin.
7) If required, calculate the slope on the graph.
8) Make sure to use a best fit line if the graph is
linear. Use a smooth (free-hand) curve if the
graph is a curved one.
A Graph of Speed Vs. Time
Speed (m/s)
21
18
15
12
9
6
3
0
0
2
4
6
Time (s)
8
10
12
The Metric System
The metric system conveniently uses the
number ten as a conversion factor.
The Metric System
Commonly used base units:
Length: metre (m)
Weight: gram (g)
Volume: litre (l)
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The Metric System
To convert, ask yourself …
1.Which unit is larger?
2.Will my # be larger or smaller?
3.How many places do I move the decimal?
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M
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Examples:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
100cm = ____________ dm
53kL = ____________ daL
0.025MA = __________ hA
50m = ____________ cm
0.000046mΩ = __________ųΩ
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BASE
Examples:
6) 600 W = _____________ kW
7) 200 mm = _____________ m
8) 0.0072 ML = ____________ hL
9) 45.3 mL = _____________ L
10) 0.00096 mW = ___________ ųW
Lab Write Up Requirements
1) Title Page (separate or at top of page) –
include the name of the lab, your name, your
partner’s name, the date the lab is due, and
the class that you are in.
2) Purpose or Objective – this is either given or
determined by the student.
3) Hypothesis – is an educated prediction made
before the lab. It is okay to be wrong!
4) Materials – a list of all the equipment used in the
lab. You may be required to draw a diagram of
the set up.
5) Procedure – detailed step-by-step directions of
what you did in your lab should be written
here.
6) Data and Observations – consists of all
measurements, observations, and calculations.
Usually in the form of a table or chart. This is
where a graph would go.
7) Analysis/Questions – All questions asked will be
answered in this section.
8) Conclusion – should relate back to the purpose
of the lab. What were your results? Did the
experiment agree with your hypothesis?
9) Sources of Error – Record two external factors
that could have effected the result of your
experiment.
Physical vs. Chemical Change
• physical change - a change in matter in
which no new type of matter is
produced; for example, freezing,
melting and boiling.
• chemical change - a change in which
one or more new substances are
produced with properties different from
those of the starting substance.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Observations
• Quantitative - data that consists
of numbers and/or units of
measurements; obtained through
measurement and mathematical
calculations (length, width,
height, area, volume, perimeter,
mass, density, circumference).
• Qualitative - information gathered
in which no measurement takes
place, instead the five senses are
used to make the observation
(see, hear, taste, feel, smell).