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Lab Safety

Being in the lab is a privilege that can be taken away. Students and teachers should conduct themselves in a responsible manner to ensure the safety of everyone

General Rules:

  • Conduct yourself in a responsible manner and check about medical conditions prior to working in the lab
  • Follow all written and verbal instructions. If confused, ask the instructor before proceeding
  • Never work alone- an instructor must always be present; experiments must be monitored, unauthorized experiments are prohibited
  • Do NOT eat, drink, or chew gum in the lab
  • Do NOT smell things directly- always waft
  • Be prepared, no horseplay, keep areas clean
  • Know where things are located- fire extinguisher, exites, fire alarm, etc.
  • Work in well ventilated areas, use fume hood if necessary
  • Be alert, proceed with caution, know what to do during an emergency
  • Dispose of chemicals properly, read labels and equipment carefully
  • Keep hands away from the face, mouth, eyes, nose, and body- always wash hands after experiments
  • Be careful with sharp objects- hever catch falling instruments, cut away from body, grasp by the handle

 

Clothing:

  • Wear safety goggles around: chemicals, heat, glassware
  • No baggy or loose clothing, open toed shoes, dangling jewelry
  • Long Hair must be tied back

 

Handling Chemicals and Injuries:

  • Do not touch, smell, or taste anything unless instructed to
  • Always check labels and dispose properly
  • Handle chemicals with extreme care- do not drop or spill; hold securely
  • Do not touch broken glass without gloves, use tongs or mitts for hot objects
  • Never leave a burner unattended
  • In case of accidents or injury, report to the instructor

 

The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method- A systematic process for studying nature that involves observations, hypothesis, and experimentation

  • Make an Observation
    • State the problem
    • Collect the data
  • Formulate a Hypothesis
  • Perform Experiments

Types of Observations

  • Qualitative- non-numerical; they ask "what?"
  • Quantitative- numerical; they ask "how much?"
    • Quantitative observations can also be called measurements

 

What testable questions can you come up with?