EXPERIMENT 3 : GLASSWARE CLEANING AND CHEMICAL STORAGE

Objectives

1. Apply the proper techniques of cleaning glassware.

2. Select the correct cleaner to clean the stain.

3. Apply the procedure to store the chemicals and solvents according to the hazardous
grading.

PROCEDURES

Activity 1: Glassware cleaning

You are given glassware apparatus with different residues. Identify the suitable
cleaner which can be used to remove the residues. Clean the glassware according to
the recommended cleaners in Table 1 and record your observations (state whether
the cleaner can remove the residue, the way of cleaning and total time used to remove
the residues).

Activity 2: Chemical storage

a) 10 chemical substances found in a chemistry laboratory was classified according

to their hazard classes and storage codes by using a suitable graphic
organizer (chart, map, or table).
b) Complete the information in Table 2, apply the classification you have made to
store and locate the chemicals based on their hazard symbols that has been
labelled.
 RESULTS

Table 1

Observation/Cleaner
Glassware Conclusion
Apparatus Residue Water / Thinner Detergent Chromic acid
Hot
water

Boiling tube Naphthalene Do not clean and Do not clean and Do not clean and Turn to yellow, Completely clean
do not dissolve do not dissolve do not dissolve do not really
clean, do not
dissolve

Test tube Metallic Do not clean and Do not clean and Do not really Clean but do not Completely clean
silver mirror do not dissolve do not dissolve clean and dissolve and
precipitate precipitate
formed formed

Watch glass Paint Do not clean do Clean and Do not clean and Do not clean and Completely clean
not dissolve dissolve do not dissolve do not dissolve

Beaker Butter Clean but not Clean but not Clean and not Do not dissolve Completely clean
dissolve dissolve dissolve and do not clean
 Table 2

Chemical Name Symbol Storage priority symbol

Formic acid

Benzoil peroxide solid

Sodium hydroxide
pallet

Sodium peroxide

Methanol

Potassium
permanganate

Sodium cyanide

NONE NONE
Sodium chloride

Cyclohexanone

Iodine indicator

Uranium
Discussion
Based on the table 1, firstly, boiling tube with naphthalene. Water, thinner and detergent do
not clean and dissolve the residue. While, for chromic acid, the colours turn to yellow and do
not really clean the naphthalene.Secondly, test tube with the metallic silver mirror. We
observed that water and thinner do not clean and dissolve the residue in the test tube. When
using the detergent, it do not really clean and the precipitate formed. While for the chromic
acid, it clean but do not dissolve and the precipitate formed. Thirdly is watch glass with the
paint. Water, detergent and chromic acid do not clean and dissolve the residue. But, when
using the thinner, the residue clean and dissolve completely. Lastly, the beaker with butter.
Observation when using water, thinner and detergent it was clean but not dissolve. While
using the chromic acid, it do not clean and dissolve the butter. Chromic acid removes
naphthalene better than other because chromic acid is a very strong and corrosive oxidizing
agent. However it is very high toxicity.
Based on the table 2, we are managed to classify and locate the chemicals based on their
hazard symbols that has been labelled. For the sodium chloride, it has no classes for the
hazard symbols and storage codes.

Questions
Fill the blank with the correct answer
1. After cleaning and rinsing the glassware with tap water, it should be rinsed with
Distilled water or decolorized water before drying.

2. Chromic acid is a suitable solution to clean tough stain such as metal and organic
residue.

3. Alkali such as sodium and lithium should be

stored
in airtight container under mineral oil or inert gas because these materials can
react vigorously in contact with water or wet surfaces.

4. Pyrophoric substances are chemicals that can ignite spontaneously upon contact
with
air at temperature of less than 54C.

5. Due to the corrosive properties of the chromic acid,

Alconox powdered detergent and liquinox critical cleaning liquid detergent have
been proposed as alternatives to replace chromic acid as detergent in glassware
cleaning.
 True or false
1. Hydrofluoric acid cannot be used as a cleaning agent because it can dissolve
glass. (TRUE)

2. We should rinse the burette several times with distilled water before we use it for
titration. (TRUE)

3. Acids and bases should be stored in the same storage cabinet to minimize the
storage space. (FALSE)

4. Ethers tend to react with air and light to form unstable peroxide. Therefore
diethyl ether should be stored in steel containers because the iron neutralizes
peroxides. (TRUE )

5. Nitric acid and sulphuric acid should be stored in fumed cupboards because these
acids can vaporize in the air. (TRUE)

Conclusion
From this experiment, we are able to apply the proper techniques of cleaning glassware.
Secondly, we are also be able to select the correct cleaner to clean the stain and apply the
procedure to store the chemicals and solvents according to the hazardous grading.

References
(1) John Kenkel . (2002) . Analytical Chemistry for Technicians . United States of
America.

(2) K. Matsuno . (1996) . The Treatment of Hydrofluoric Acid Burns . Department of

Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and
Environmental Health, Japan.