Laboratory Rules Flashcards
Study these flashcards to master the topic of lab safety, as covered in most introductory undergrad chemistry courses, and as tested on the AP Chemistry exam.
Who are laboratory rules designed to keep safe?
You are expected to adhere to the safety guidelines to ensure a safe laboratory environment for both yourself and the people you may be working near.
Additional safety precautions may be announced prior to experiments where a potential danger exists from explosive, highly toxic, or carcinogenic substances - which may be harmful to those outside of the lab and not directly present.
How safe are you guaranteed to be if you follow the lab safety rules?
There is no such thing as 100% safe.
There always remains a certain unavoidable hazard associated with the use of a variety of chemicals and glassware, especially for explosive, highly toxic, and carcinogenic substances from the experiments which you will perform.
During what times in the lab is it acceptable to remove your safety goggles?
None.
Safety goggles must be worn at all times while in the laboratory. This must be followed whether you are actually working on an experiment or simply writing in your lab notebook.
Why are contact lenses not allowed in the laboratory, but prescriptive glasses are?
Contact lenses are not allowed, even when worn under safety goggles, because fumes can accumulate under the lens and cause serious injuries or blindness.
What manner of protective clothing should be worn in lab?
Closed toe shoes and long pants must be worn in the lab at all times. Sandals and shorts are not ever acceptable.
Many labs additionally require a lab coat, which properly covers all sensitive skin of the arms, torso, and neck.
What is the standard treatment for long hair in lab?
Long hair must be tied back when using open flames. In general it is recommended to be tied back at all times to avoid contamination.
When during an experiment can you pull out a small packaged snack, or drink out of a resealable water bottle?
Eating and drinking in any fashion are strictly prohibited in the laboratory.
Harmful contamination of water can occur readily (even if the bottle is only briefly open) if soluble toxic fumes are present.
What must be done, always, prior to leaving lab for any reason?
Hands must be washed.
Always wash your hands before leaving lab. Contaminants can be deposited on door handles, railings, other non-lab persons, or yourself accidentally. This is clearly most important when planning on immediately eating or drinking after leaving the lab.
What is the accepted procedure for ascertaining if a chemical has a distinct odor?
By means of your cupped hand, waft a small sample to your nose. Do not inhale these vapors - take in only enough to detect an odor if one exists.
Never taste anything. Never directly smell the source of any vapor or gas.
Where in the lab can you leave your coat / backpack / accessories?
Ideally in a closed locker outside the lab room.
Some labs will have a separate space farthest from the experiment, designated for accessories. Coats, backpacks, etc., should not be left on the lab benches and stools. Lab chemicals can damage personal items.
What common emergency first aid resources are available in every lab?
These include fire extinguishers, fire blankets, full shower and eye-wash stations.
Many labs will also have gauze, burn cream, antiseptic, saline, alcohol, etc - but these are not generally considered emergency.
For treatment of a chemical burn, heat burn, or contaminated cut, what is the best course of first aid action?
- Flush immediately with cool water.
- Inform the instructor and contact a health care specialist.
- If not able to sufficiently treat on site, wrap with gauze to avoid additional contamination.
Sometimes an experiment doesn’t yield the expected result, and further tests will need to be done. Describe when and how those tests should occur.
No unauthorized experiments should be performed during the original experiment window.
If a new experiment is deemed necessary, consult with your laboratory instructor to determine if there is time permitting or additional precautions required for that experiment.
What is the best way to determine the level of hazard that a substance holds?
Chemicals in the lab are marked with NFPA hazardous materials diamond labels.
Always know what chemicals you are using by reading the label twice before taking anything from a bottle.
In an NFPA diamond label, what does the number 4 in the blue left-most diamond indicate?
4 = Deadly health hazard.
The blue left-most diamond is the health hazard rating and starts at 0 as the lowest (no hazard) to 4 as the highest (lethal hazard).
In an NFPA diamond label, what does the number 0 in the red top-most diamond indicate?
0 = Substance will not burn.
The red top-most diamond is the fire hazard rating and starts at 0 as the lowest (no hazard) to 4 as the highest (flammable at or below room temperature).
In an NFPA diamond label, what does the number 2 in the yellow right-most diamond indicate?
2 = Violent chemical change.
The yellow right-most diamond is the reactivity hazard rating and starts at 0 as the lowest (no hazard, stable) to 4 as the highest (extreme hazard, may detonate).
In an NFPA diamond label, what does the symbol below in the white bottom-most diamond indicate?
Trefoil = Radioactive.
The white bottom-most diamond is the specific hazard rating and contains any additional information for lab usage. Additional symbols like OXY (oxidizer) and ACID (an acid) are common as well.
In an NFPA diamond label, what does the “strike-through W” in the white bottom-most diamond indicate?
-W- = Do not allow near water.
The white bottom-most diamond is the specific hazard rating and contains any additional information for lab usage. Additional symbols like OXY (oxidizer) and ACID (an acid) are common as well.
