General Laboratory Rules and Safety Precautions

The Chemistry Laboratory can be a place of discovery and learning. However,

considering the nature of work done in the laboratory, it can be a dangerous place if safety
precautions are not taken. Students are expected to learn and follow the general working
guidelines in the laboratory to ensure a safe environment for them and the people they may be
working with additional safety precautions will be announced in class prior to experiments where
a potential danger may exist.

Attire

1. Safety goggles and laboratory gowns/aprons must be worn whenever you work in the lab.
Gloves should be worn whenever you use chemicals that may cause skin irritations or
when you need to handle hot equipment. Contact lenses are not allowed unless you have
permission from your instructor. Even when worn under safety goggles, various fumes
may accumulate under the lenses and cause serious injuries or blindness.
2. Dress properly during a laboratory activity. Long hair, dangling jewelry and loose or
baggy clothing are hazardous in the laboratory.
3. Closed toe shoes and long pants must be worn in the lab. Sandals and shorts are not
allowed.
4. Long hair must be tied back when working with flames.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

1. The use of a laboratory coat (buttoned closed and properly fitted) is required when
working in the laboratory. Students will not be allowed to conduct practical without a
laboratory coat.
2. Students are required to provide their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as fluid
resistant gowns, gloves, goggles, and face masks. These PPE will be used when there is
significant probability that potentially hazardous substances may be splashed on the
student.
3. Protective clothing must be removed before leaving for non-laboratory areas.

Conduct Inside the Laboratory

1. Be familiar with your lab assignment before you come to the lab premises. Follow all
written and verbal instructions carefully. If you do not understand a direction or a part of
a procedure, ask the instructor before proceeding with the experiment.

2. Do not touch any equipment, chemicals, or other materials in the laboratory until you are
instructed to do so.
3. Eating, drinking and smoking are strictly prohibited in the laboratory. Do not use
laboratory glassware as container for food or beverages.
 4. No unauthorized experiments are to be performed.
5. Never taste anything.
6. Never directly smell the source of any vapor or gas. Instead, through your cupped hand,
waft a small sample to your nose.
7. Coats and backpacks, among others should not be left on the lab tables and stools. Lab
chemicals can destroy personal belongings.
8. Observe good housekeeping practices. Work areas should be kept clean at all times.
9. Know the locations and operating procedures of all safety equipment including the first
aid kit, eyewash station, safety shower, spill kit, fire extinguisher and fire blanket. Know
where the fire alarm and the exits are located.
10. Be alert and always proceed with caution in the laboratory. Notify the instructor
immediately of any unsafe condition you observe.
11. Dispose all chemical wastes properly. Never mix chemicals in sink drains. Sinks are to be
used only for water and those solutions designated by the instructor. Solid chemicals,
metals, matches, filter paper and all other insoluble materials are to be disposed of in the
proper waste containers, not in the sink. Check the label of all waste containers twice
before adding your chemical waste to the container. Cracked or broken glass should be
placed in the special container for it.
12. Labels and equipment instructions must be read carefully before use. Set up and use the
prescribed apparatus as directed in the laboratory instructions provided by your instructor.
13. Keep your hands away from your face, eyes, mouth and body while using chemicals.
Wash your hands with soap and water after performing all experiments. Clean (with
detergent powder), rinse, and dry all work surfaces after the end of the experiment.
14. At the end of the laboratory session, ensure that a) the main gas outlet valve is shut off; b)
the faucet is turned off; c) desk top, floor area, and sink are clean; and d) all equipment
are cool, clean and arranged properly.

Proper Handling of Chemicals and Equipment

1. Consider all chemicals to be hazardous unless you are instructed otherwise. Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available in the lab for all chemicals in use. This will
inform you to any hazards and precaution.

2. Know what chemicals you are using. Carefully read the label twice before taking
anything from the bottle. Excess reagents are never to be returned to stock bottles. If
you have taken too much, dispose off the excess.
3. Many common reagents, like, alcohol and acetone, are highly flammable. Do not use
them anywhere near open flames.
 4. Always pour acids into water. Water poured into acid creates a heat reaction that
would cause the water to explode into steam, sometimes violently, which in turn
would cause the acid to splatter.
5. If chemicals come into contact with your skin or eyes, flush immediately with
abundant amounts of water and consult with your instructor.
6. Contact the stockroom technician for clean-up of mercury spills.

In Case of Accidents:

The following are First Aid treatments:

A. FIRE

1. Small fires such as in the beaker or in the flask:

First, turn off the gas outlet. Then attempt to smother the fire with an asbestos pad or wet
towel. If this fails, use the fire extinguisher provided for this purpose.
2. Clothing on fire
Smother fire by covering yourself with wet blanket or by rolling on the floor.
3. Phosphorous or Sodium Fire
Put out fire by throwing sand on it. In general, do not use water, this will only result in the
spreading of the fire.

B. CUTS

First, wash with water thoroughly and then apply 70% alcohol or tincture of iodine. Bandage
with sterile gauze. Do not continue to use iodine in subsequent dressing, burn will result. Never
cover directly with adhesive tape.

C. CHEMICAL SPILLS

1. Acid in the eye

Wash thoroughly with running water, then by means of a cap bathe with 2% sodium
bicarbonate solution. Dry with sterile gauze and put several drops of olive oil.

2. Alkali in the eye

Wash thoroughly with running water, and then bathe with saturated solution of boric acid.
Dry with sterile gauze and drop olive oil into the eye.
Never use a strong acid or a base to neutralize each other on your clothing or body.

D. BURNS

Immediately plunge the burned areas with cold water for several minutes.

1. Acid burns
 Wash with running water then with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. Cover for about
ten minutes with solid sodium bicarbonate. Wash off, dry with sterile gauze and visit the
hospital for further treatment.
2. Alkali burns

Wash with running water then with saturated boric acid solution. Cover for about ten minutes
with powdered boric acid. Wash off, dry with sterile gauze and apply carbonated vaseline.
3. Heat burns

Apply Vaseline, butesine picrate, or ask for a burn ointment from your lecturer or laboratory
assistant.

E. LIQUID SPLASH ON THE EYE

Wash the eye immediately with water from the eyewash bottle or eyewash fountain.

F. CHEMICAL SPLASH ON THE SKIN

Immediately rinse the area with cold water for at least one minute. Notify your lecturer for
further action.

REPORTING OF ACCIDENTS/INCIDENTS
1. All injuries or unusual incidents must be reported immediately to the lecturer or
laboratory staff.
2. All accidents/incidents must be documented by the lecturer or laboratory staff using the
incident report form.

BEFORE LEAVING THE LABORATORY:

1. Clean your work area at the end of the laboratory session.

2. Be sure that your water and gas outlets are turned off.
3. Remove your laboratory coat.
4. Wash and dry your hands.

COMMON LABORATORY TECHNIQUES

A. Measuring volume

The graduated cylinder, volumetric flask, burette and pipette are used to measure liquid
volume in the laboratory. When measuring volume with these devices, use the lower meniscus
for transparent liquids and the higher meniscus for opaque/colored liquids. Read the same point
in the meniscus consistently for a given liquid. Make sure that the apparatus is held vertically
straight and the eye is at the same level as that of the meniscus. Your slips of vision should be
exactly perpendicular to the scale to avoid false reading caused by parallax.
 Figure 1. Reading a Meniscus
1. Graduated cylinder: A graduated cylinder is generally used for approximate
measurements with accuracy and not greater than 0.5%. Graduated cylinders of
different capacities are available. It is recommended that the volume of the cylinder
should not be more than ten times the volume to be measured for better accuracy.

2. Burette: Burettes are used to accurately measure volume in titration. There are two
kinds of burette: a) an acid burette with a glass stopcock; and b) a base burette with a
rubber connection bearing a glass delivery tip and pinchcock.

3. Pipette: Pipettes are used for accurate measurements of volumes to be transferred

from one vessel to another.

Techniques in Handling a Pipette

a. When using a pipette, always use a rubber aspirator. Before attaching the aspirator to
the pipette, squeeze to remove the air inside and then release.

b. Rinse the pipette with the liquid to be measured before use. Put a small amount of the
liquid to be measured into a clean and dry beaker. Without attaching the bulb into the stem, hold
it firmly against the end of the pipette stem as you squeeze (this will make the removal of the
bulb easier). Dip the tip of the pipette into the liquid and gradually release the bulb to draw only
1 or 2mL of the liquid into the pipette. Rotate or move the pipette in a near horizontal so that the
near inner surface comes in contact with the liquid. Drain the liquid.

c. After rinsing, dip the tip of the pipette in the liquid. Draw the liquid after squeezing
the air out of the aspirator. Gradually release the aspirator so that the liquid rises
slowly in the pipette.

d. Remove the excess liquid by holding the pipette vertically, letting the air enter by
using the index finger to allow the liquid to flow out slowly into the beaker .Do this
until the meniscus coincides with the calibration mark.

e. Insert the tip of the pipette well inside the receiver. Hold the pipette vertically and tilt
the receiver so that the pipette’s tip touches the wall of the receiver. Allow the liquid
 to flow freely down the wall of the receiver. When free flow stops, keep the pipette in
contact with the wall for 15seconds more so that the pipette walls will have a chance
to drain. Do not shake the pipette or blow out the liquid left at its tip.

Figure 2. Proper Handling of the Pipette

B. Determining Mass

Three commonly used weighing scales are found in the laboratory. These are:
1. Triple Beam Single Pan Balance: This balance is used for semi-micro masses
and has a maximum capacity of 111grams. The middle scale reads up to 100
grams in 10 grams notched steps, the rear scale up to 10grams in 1 gram notched
steps, and the front scale up to 1 gram with the rider sliding over a scale graduated
into 0.01 units.
2. Platform Balance: The single beam is graduated for 10grams in 0.1gram
divisions. The balance is sensitive to 0.1gram and can read up to 10gram without
additional masses.
3. Electronic Top-Loading Balance: This can weigh up to three decimal places or
up to the nearest thousandth of a gram.

Determining the Mass of an Object Using a Platform Balance

a. Clean the pans with dry cloth.
b. Place all the masses on the beam at zero position.
c. Make sure that the pointer swings equally to the left and to the right of the
scale or it stays at zero position.
d. Place the object to be weighed on the left pan. Never place a chemical directly
on the pan.
e. Always start with heavier rider. If the right pan is still higher than the left pan,
it means that the object is heavier than the mass on the beam. Move the rider
to the next notch until the right pan becomes lower than the left pan.
 Safety Precaution when Using the Balance
a. When transferring the balance from the cabinet to your table, carry it with
your left hand supporting the base and your right on the pointer support.
b. Place powdered or granulated solids to be weighed on a piece of paper, the
mass of which have been previously determined.
c. Wipe off immediately any spilled chemicals with a clean rug. Keep the
balance away from the supply of reagents and from corrosive fumes.
d. Avoid jarring the balance by roughly adding or subtracting a weight or
weights.
e. After using the balance, replace all the sliding weight on the zero mark.

C. Measuring Temperature

A thermometer is a device for measuring temperature. It has a bulb that contains mercury

attached to a fine graduated glass capillary.

Graduated in Celsius degree, the zero (0o) mark corresponds to the freezing temperature
of water at a pressure of one atmosphere (atm). The 100 o mark is the normal boiling temperature
of water. The column length between 0 o and 100ois divided into 100 equal distances; each scale
division is equal to one degree Celsius.

How to Make Temperature Readings

When reading the thermometer, your eyes must be at same level as the mercury column.

Safety Precaution when using the thermometer

a. Do not hold the mercury bulb of the thermometer. This end is prone to breaking.
b. In case the thermometer breaks, collect the mercury glass by passing a cooper sheet or
wire over each droplet. Place the collected mercury in the bottle. Add enough water to
submerge the mercury. Cover tightly.
c. All accidents involving mercury must be reported to the teacher.
d. Do not play with mercury. Mercury is volatile and its vapor is poisonous.
e. To insert the thermometer into a cork/rubber, stopper, lubricate the thermometer and
stopper with water or little oil. Hold the thermometer with a piece of cloth near the end.
Insert using a twisting motion. This would prevent the breaking of the thermometer at the
end of the stress.

Dispensing of Chemicals
A. Handling Bottles Containing Liquid

1. When pouring chemicals from glass-stoppered reagent bottles, remove the stopper and
hold it in your fingers while carefully pouring the liquid into the desired container.
 2. When pouring form a screw cap bottle, set up the cap upside down on the table top so
that it does not become contaminated. Be sure to put the correct cap on the bottle after
you have used it.
3. Always pour the liquid from a bottle on side opposite the label, especially if the bottle has
paper label. If you spill any liquid or drip some on the side of the bottle, clean it up.
4. Never put the chemicals back on the reagent bottles to prevent contamination.

a) Glass-stoppered reagent bottles b) Screw cap bottle

c) Transferring liquid from a reagent bottle

Figure 3a, b and c. Proper Handling of Reagent Bottles

B. Dispensing Solids from Bottles

When dispensing samples of powdered crystalline from a jar, pour the desired amount of
the solid on a small piece of clean paper or into a clean beaker. Carefully tilt the jar and rotate it
back and forth to work the solid up to the mouth. Then using the same back and forth rotation,
allow the desired amount of solid to fall from jar. Be careful when transferring a solid from a jar.
Never put any solid back into the jar. Never put wooden slits, spatulas, or paper into a jar of solid
unless your instructor allows it. Solid may be poured into test tubes by using a piece of paper that
has been creased down at the center.

C. Heating in a Test Tube

Hold the test tubes with a test tube holder in a slanting position or at 45 o position. Move
the tube gently along the length so that heat would be evenly distributed. Never point a test tube
(or any beaker that you are heating) at yourself or anyone else. Do not heat the test tube directly
at the bottom as this may cause the liquid to suddenly boil and erupt out of the tube.

Figure 4. Heating in a Test Tube

D. Using an Evaporating Dish

An evaporating dish is a shallow, heat-resistant porcelain ware. It is used when

evaporating volatile solvent from a solution, leaving behind a solid.

Figure 5. Evaporation of a Solution

How to Evaporate Solutions

Heat is applied directly to the evaporating dish with or without wire gauze (direct heating
may be with an alcohol burner). The solvent is allowed to evaporate leaving the solute on the
dish. A gas flame is not recommended for evaporating small amount of solution

because spattering may occur with high temperature. Also, some solids decompose at high
temperature.

Safety Precautions when Using the Evaporating Dish

 It is always safe to evaporate all liquids through steam bath.
 When evaporation is done using direct heat, reduce the flame when only a small amount
of liquid is left so as not to decompose the residue.
 Let the dish cool down before removing the solid.
 Use a cloth pad to remove the dish from the setup.
 Do not put the hot porcelain on a wet or cold surface to prevent breakage due to sudden
change in temperature.

E. Preparing Filter Paper

Fold the paper along its diameter and fold it again to a quadrant. Tear off the smaller
quarter and open it into the shape of a cone with one thickness on one side and three layers (two
with the torn corner) on the other side. The torn corner prevents an air column from existing
between the glass funnel and the filter. Adjust the cone to fit the funnel exactly. Moisten the filter
paper with distilled water and press evenly until there are no air bubbles between the filter paper
and the funnel.

Figure 6. Proper folding of Filter Paper