BIOCHEM LAB WEEK 1

Question 1

CAUSTIC BASES AND ACIDS

Answer 1

Do not measure solutions of the bases and acids
with a mouth pipette. Do it only with a measuring
test tube or a burette.

Do not keep a vessel with the base or acid near
your eyes.

Do not pour water to acid (especially to H2SO4)when you prepare an acid solution.

If base or acid gets on your skin, mucous membrane
or especially eyes you should bathe the affected
place in running water for 10 - 15 minutes and then
treat this place with the diluted solution of boric
acid or ammonia.

Question 2

ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS

Answer 2

1. Do not touch the naked electric wires.
2. Do not work with unearthed apparatus.
3. Do not pull out an electric wire, when you switch off an electric apparatus
   from the electric network. Do it only with an electric plug.
4. Do not touch a water pipe, a tap, and a heating radiator when you work with
   electric apparatus.
5. If somebody gets an electric shock you should immediately switch off electric power and only after that help him.

Question 3

FIRE-FIGHTING RULES

Answer 3

1. Do not smoke in a laboratory, a corridor, or other places of the department.
2. Be careful when you work with explosive or inflamed substances (spirits, ketones,
   ethers etc).
3. If fire begins, you should use a fire-extinguisher or water (only for water soluble
   inflamed substances).

Question 4

Solvents

Answer 4

 Never heat inflammable solvents with or near a flame
 Ethyl ether and petroleum ether should be heat
through the use of water or steam bath, and collect
the distillate in an ice-cooled flask,
 If an inflammable solvent is spilled, have all workers at the desk turn off their burners and clean it up
immediately using a cloth.
 Benzene and chlorinated solvents are toxic

Question 5

Chemicals

Answer 5

 Sodium and potassium metals react explosively with
water
 Concentrated acids and alkalis are corrosive to the
desktops, clothing and skin
 Mercury and its vapour are poisonous

Question 6

Apparatus

Answer 6

Use glass stirring rods with care for breaking up solids.

They are liable to break

Question 7

Burns – Heat/Chemical

Answer 7

Heat burns: Run cool water over area for 5 minutes, then report to the professor

Chemical burns (acid or alkaline): Flush with large amounts of cool running water for 15 minutes, then report to the professor

Question 8

Eye Splash Chemical

Answer 8

Flush with lukewarm (body temperature) running water; turn head side to side and have water run across both eyes. Flush eyes for at least 15 minutes before going for further treatment at the
clinic

Question 9

MSDS

Answer 9

Material Safety Data Sheet