Chemistry Lab Safety Rules

Adhere to all safety tips/rules that are written, or said verbally before the lab. Many times these will be prelab assignments.

Safety Rules

1. Safety goggles or glasses must be worn during chemistry experiments at all times. Why? _________

2. Wear sensible clothing. Confine long hair (hair ties) and avoid fuzzy clothing. Wear enclosed shoes.

Lab aprons are available in back corner. Please fold back up when finished.

Know the location of the eyewash station and shower and how to

use it.

Safety Rules

3. Know the locations and operating instructions for the fire extinguishers and fire blankets.

Safety Rules

4. Know the locations of the nearest available telephones and emergency phone numbers to use to call for help in case of an emergency.

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Safety Rules

5. Keep burners in the middle of the lab table, not on the edge. When heating liquids in test tubes, never point the tube toward yourself or anyone else. Never heat the test tube directly at the bottom but tilt the tube and heat it gently between the bottom of the tube and the top of the liquid. Use boiling chips when boiling liquids in a flask or beaker to prevent bumping.

Safety Rules

6. Follow instructions carefully. Know the safety hazards of each experiment before starting. Do not perform unauthorized experiments. Only work in the laboratory when supervised by an instructor.

Safety Rules

7. Keep tabletops clean. Return all equipment to its original location before leaving the lab. Clean all spills immediately.

Use lab notebooks to record data immediately upon observing the data.

This will keep lab report sheets clean and prevent loss of data when partner is absent. It also discourages falsifying data which obviously is a violation of academic integrity!

Safety Rules

8. Report all accidents, no matter how minor, to the instructor. If you break something made of glass, be sure to use dustpan and hand broom to sweep it up and dispose of it in the garbage.

Safety Rules

9. Never return chemicals to bottles of their origin. If you have excess, give it to another student or throw it away. Check labels on containers twice to make sure you use the right chemical and of the correct concentration. Dispose of chemicals as directed***

Safety Rules

10. Always add concentrated acids or bases to water, never water to concentrated acids or bases. “Add acid to water like you oughter”.

Water holds more heat and if it splatters it is more dilute.

11) Use fume hoods when noxious fumes may be present in an experiment or use waffing.

Safety Rules

11. Do not stick objects into bottle except spatula or dropper provided for that bottle. Do not set the spatula or dropper down on the counter (you may contaminate it). Keep each spatula or dropper with the proper bottle. Return the spatula or dropper to the tube attached to the bottle to avoid switching.

Safety Rules

12. In case of an emergency where we have to evacuate, proceed out the nearest exit which is out the door to the left, then right down the 300 wing and out the first doors on the right.

Safety Rules

13. Never put anything in your mouth while in the lab (including pipets, chemicals, solutions, equipment, cigarettes, food, drink, or gum, cough drops, etc).

Finally, wash hands well in either of two sinks that have hot water. My desk’s sink and the sink by the fume hood have hot water.

NO other sinks have hot water.

You must “pass” a safety quiz before your first lab before you will be allowed to participate!

80% is passing.

Use you head!