THE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY

INCLUDES HAZARDS AND RISKS.

This presentation summarizes some of the
safety rules for an organic laboratory. If some of
the material is unfamiliar, or you did not take
general chemistry at the College of Charleston,
you should review the information in the
attached link: General Chemistry Lab Safety

1
 1. PPE
Personal Protective Equipment: What must be worn when you work in
the laboratory.

Eye Protection

Lab Coat

Long Pants

Closed Toed Shoes – no exposed skin around feet

Lab gloves – when required

2
 Eye Protection
• Contact lenses are OK as long as glasses/goggles are worn
• Prescription glasses – you must wear goggles over them
• Safety goggles are provided in organic labs in UV irradiating
cabinets
• Eye wash stations are present in all labs

3
Result of Improper Footwear in a Laboratory

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL July 2003

Your instructor will send you home to change if you do not

have appropriate shoes or other required PPE.
4
 Hand Protection: Chemically resistant Lab
Gloves

✓ 
• Wear gloves of a material known to be resistant to
permeation by the substances in use – nitrile is good for most
of our laboratory classes.
• Inspect each glove for small holes or tears before use.
• When you spill on your glove or tear it, change it
immediately. Throw gloves away any time you take them 5off.
 Use of Gloves
Remove gloves before handling objects such as
doorknobs, telephones, pens, computer keyboards,
pH meter or other electronic buttons, or phones
while in lab. It might be convenient to have one
gloved hand and one ungloved hand to do
procedures where these kinds of things are used.
• Throw away gloves anytime you take them off.
• You should expect to use several pairs of gloves in
any given lab period.
• Glove video
6
 2.
Safety Equipment in the Lab
Safety Shower:
Know where these are in your lab.

7
 Safety Shower

The safety shower is on the right. Pull the handle

and water will start spraying from the shower head
on the ceiling. There’s no drain in the floor – we
only do this in emergencies, because a flood of
water will have to be cleaned up.

8
 Safety Shower

Safety
Shower

9
 3.
Know the risks of the chemical reagents you are
working with

10
Labels are important

Even if it seems obvious.

In the chemistry lab, nothing is ever obvious.
11
 NFPA Diamond
National Fire Protection Association Hazard Identification System

12
 MSDS (SDS)
• Provides procedures for handling or working with
that substance in a safe manner
• Includes physical data:
melting point, boiling point, flash point, etc.
• Includes safety data: incompatibilities, toxicity,
health effects, reactivity, storage, disposal:
protective equipment & spill-handling procedures
first aid

13
 How to find an MSDS
• There are on-line repositories of MSDS that can be searched
by the following methods:
• Common Name
• IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)
Name
• C.A.S. NUMBER – (Chemical Abstracts Service) a number
assigned to all commercialized chemicals available in the US
• The easiest to use is the CAS number, as it is a unique
identifier that isn’t subject to spelling errors
• MSDS for each experiment are posted on OAKS

14
 Incompatible materials
• Certain chemicals should not be stored and
cannot be safely mixed with certain other
chemicals due to severe reaction exotherm or
uncontrolled production of a toxic product.
Every lab has a
legible matrix that
lists the general
classes of
materials that
should not be
mixed together: 15
 Routes of Entry and Allowable Exposure Limits

• There are four main routes by which hazardous chemicals enter the
body:
– Inhalation: Absorption through the respiratory tract. Most important in terms of severity.
– Skin absorption.
– Ingestion: Absorption through the digestive tract. Can occur through eating or smoking
with contaminated hands or in contaminated work areas.
– Injection. Can occur by accidental needle stick or puncture of skin with a sharp object.

• Most exposure standards, Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Permissible Exposure
Limits(PELs), are based on the inhalation route of exposure. expressed in terms of either
parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) concentration in air.
• Other measures of chemical exposure:
• Lethal dose or concentration for 50% of the exposed population (LD50 or LC50)
expressed in mg contaminant per kg of body weight
• Short term exposure limit (STEL or TLV-STEL) is the amount of a substance you can
be exposed to for 15 minutes four times a day

16
 4.
Fire Safety

17
 Fire Alarms –
know the location of one close to your lab

18
Fire Extinguishers – we have several in the
labs and in the hallways.

19
20
 Types of Fire Extinguishers

This is a special
fire extinguisher
for combustible
metal fires. It is a
type D fire
extinguisher. You
won’t need to
use this unless
you work in a
research lab with
combustible
metals.

Most of our fire extinguishers are ABC.

It contains a dry powder to put out the
kinds of fires we might encounter in the 21
chemistry labs where we have class.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCVRZuup
cFw

22
 Student Reaction in a Fire
Although we want you to be informed on the operation of a
fire extinguisher, we do not expect you to use it. If a fire is
ignited in your area, the proper STUDENT response is to:

1) Notify everyone in the room

2) If possible shutdown any reaction in progress by removing
heat/energy source and/or pulling plug on power cord
3) Proceed to the nearest exit and pull the nearest fire alarm
4) Evacuate the building

23
 Flammables, combustibles, and potentially
explosive materials
• There are different ways of designating that a chemical is a fire risk:
• Flashpoint - minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off a
vapor in sufficient concentration to ignite in the presence of an
ignition source
• Combustible liquid - Any liquid having a flashpoint at or above 37.8
o
C (100 F) but below 93.3 oC (200 F)
• Flammable liquid - any liquid having a flashpoint below 37.8 oC
• Autoignition temperature - the lowest temperature at which it will
spontaneously ignite in a normal atmosphere without an external
source of ignition, such as a flame or spark
• Explosive - A chemical that causes a sudden, almost instantaneous
release of pressure, gas, and heat temperature.

24
 Working with flames
• Never leave experiments unattended unless you take
special precautions to avoid accidents and you notify the
responsible individuals.
• Flames are never allowed when flammable gases or
liquids are in use.
• Always alert others before lighting a flame.
• Never leave a flame unattended under any circumstances.
• Turn off the natural gas at the valve when you are finished
with your work Closed valve is
Perpendicular to hose
• In the organic lab, Bunsen burners are rarely used to
either (1) to pull TLC spotting tubes; or (2) to conduct
flame or combustion tests.

25
 5.
Disposal Procedures

26
 Broken Glassware
• Always check your glassware and discard any
with chips, breaks, or obvious flaws.
• Throw away broken glassware into special
glass waste containers, NOT the trash. YES

NO

27
 Waste Disposal
• Waste containers are provided for chemical waste
generated in laboratories
• Some things can go down the sink, some can’t.
Always check with your instructor.
• Care must be used to avoid mixing incompatible
chemicals such as
– Acids with Bases
– Oxidizers and Flammables
– Water reactive and aqueous solutions
– Cyanides and acids

28
 Handling Waste in Organic Labs
• Organic liquids like CH2Cl2 (aka methylene chloride, dichloromethane) &
acetone, & TBME & liquid reagents PUT IN ORGANIC (HALOGENATED)
LIQUID WASTE CONTAINER IN WASTE HOOD
• Aqueous – neutral (not basic or acidic) containing trace organics PUT IN
AQUEOUS WASTE CONTAINER IN WASTE HOOD
• Aqueous – neutral (not basic or acidic) containing NONTOXIC salts with no
trace organics CAN GO IN PUBLIC SEWAR, DOWN THE DRAIN (Use the
“Would I want to swim it rule?”. Yes? Then put it down the drain. NO?
Then put it in the aqueous waste container.)
• Solid chemical – old products, left over starting materials, includes organic
and inorganic PUT IN SOLID WASTE CONTAINER IN WASTE HOOD
• Solid, non toxic waste (paper towels, notebook pages) PUT IN TRASH
ONLY IF SAFE TO TOUCH WITH BARE HANDS

29
 Think First, Dispose Second
 PAPER, WITHOUT
CHEMICAL RESIDUE X PAPER, WITHOUT CHEMICAL
X CLEAN BROKEN GLASS RESIDUE
X CLEAN BROKEN GLASS
X CHEMICAL WASTE
X PAPER, WITHOUT CHEMICAL  CHEMICAL WASTE
RESIDUE
 CLEAN BROKEN GLASS

X CHEMICAL WASTE

30
 6.
How to be a good lab citizen

31
SEVEN must-have habits for lab-work

1. Be prepared before walking into the lab.

2. Think about the how and why before doing anything.
3. Begin with a clean, neat work area; make it so.
4. Minimize clutter; store book bags, equipment, etc.
5. Have instructions, pen and notebook available.
6. Return materials and equipment to proper places.
7. Make it clean and neat and orderly before leaving.

32
 Keep your lab area clean.

× in front of the
eyewash/shower
×
Don’t block the floor
Don’t leave cords
dangling because

×
station. someone will trip

×
over them.

Don’t leave things in

Throw away used the floor because
paper towels and someone will trip
used gloves, over it.
immediately.

33
 Don’t put anything on your face or in your
mouth while you’re in lab.
• Take care not to ingest anything in the
laboratory!
• Food, gum, beverages, candy, and tobacco
products are never allowed in the laboratory.
• Don’t apply makeup, chap-stick, lotion, or
anything to your face or hands during lab. Wash
your hands with soap then leave the lab before
touching your face or other exposed skin.

× 34
Stay aware of what’s happening around you while
you’re working in the lab.

• Don’t use any distracting electronic devices

while in laboratory. If you touch your phone
during lab, you’re contaminating it with
whatever chemicals you’ve been working with.
• Do not wear earbuds in the lab. You need to be
able to hear important announcements,
especially in an emergency or when a safety
concern is addressed.

× 35
 Chemical storage

• Flammables/combustibles
• Acids
• Bases
• Oxidizers
• Nonreactive (e.g., brine)

36
 Mineral Acids – inorganic acids
Mineral Acids can be stored together except for Nitric Acid, which
must be stored by itself because it is also strong oxidizer.
Strong Mineral Acids Weak Mineral Acids
• Hydrochloric Acid • Phosphoric Acid
• Hydrobromic Acid • Boric Acid
• Hydroiodic Acid • Hydrofluoric Acid
• Nitric Acid
• Perchloric Acid
• Sulfuric Acid

37
 Organic Acids
• Organic Acids can be stored together, but they
must be stored separately from both mineral
acids and nitric acid.

38
 Storing Acids and Bases
• Mineral Acids can be stored in the same cabinet
as Bases, as long as they are physically isolated
from each other.
• If your lab contains some of each of these
categories of acids, you should have the following
separate cabinets:
1. Mineral Acids + Bases
2. Organic Acids
3. Nitric Acid (Strong Oxidizer)
39
The color of the bottle cap has a meaning.
Cap color corresponds to
concentrated solution of:
• Red: Nitric Acid
• Blue: Hydrochloric Acid
• Yellow: Sulfuric Acid
• Brown: Acetic Acid
• White: Phosphoric Acid

Also one base:

• Green: Ammonium Hydroxide

40
 Acid bottles (+ ammonium hydroxide)

• If you prepare an aqueous solution and store it in a

glass or plastic bottle, you shouldn’t use one of these
cap colors. Instead, try to use clear, black, orange, or
purple caps.

41
 Nitric Acid
• If nitric acid is mixed with a flammable organic
compound, such as acetic acid, the heat from the
oxidation and neutralization reactions is enough to
ignite the flammable material.
• Nitric acid also slowly destroys its red plastic bottle
cap. Always replace with a new red cap.
• Nitric acid may turn yellow over time because of the
release of nitrogen dioxide on exposure to light. The
yellow color does not affect the product’s usefulness
in the school laboratory.
42
 Sulfuric Acid
• Concentrated sulfuric acid is a strong
dehydrating agent. Because of its strong ability
to remove water, it reacts violently with many
organic materials such as sugar, wood, and
paper.
• If sulfuric acid has turned brown, it has
probably been contaminated with an organic
material and its purity should be in question.

43
 Hydrochloric Acid
• Concentrated hydrochloric acid fumes continuously
and cannot be stored without releasing hydrochloric
acid vapor. These fumes are responsible for most of
the corrosion damage in your chemical storeroom.
Storing hydrochloric acid in a wood or plastic-lined
acid cabinet is a must. Hydrochloric acid fumes will
quickly corrode metal cabinets.
• Hydrochloric acid fumes mixed with ammonia fumes
will react to form ammonium chloride clouds and
possibly toxic chloramines. Open containers of these
two reagents should not be in the same hood.
44
 Chemical Spills
• Notify your instructor and your neighbors if
you spill chemicals on the floor or bench.
• Don’t try to clean it up yourself. Your
instructor may need to use a specially
designed chemical spill kit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtp9vT15qIs

45
 Texas Tech January 7, 2010
• Conducting research funded by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security on energetic / explosive compounds
• Attempting to produce 100 times more of an explosive
compound than the informal lab limit (100mg)

Lesson:
Follow instructions
in the lab.

46
 7.
Procedures and Practices

47
 Students must report any injuries,
big or small.

• Report all injuries to the instructor. We will

not call emergency services unless the
instructor determines it is a serious injury.
• An incident report will be filled out whether it
is small or serious.

48
 Injury procedure, continued

• First Aid kits are available in the lab with band

aids and other items for treating small cuts
and burns.
• If it is a serious injury, your instructor will call
campus emergency services, 843-953-5611.
Our campus officers will work with the
instructor and/or injured student to determine
whether or not 911 EMS should be called in.

49
 Process safety
When performing an experiment always consider the
following:
– Is the material flammable, explosive, corrosive, or reactive?
– Is the material toxic, and if so, how exposure to the material occur
– What kind of personal protective equipment or ventilation is needed to
protect myself?
– Will the process generate other toxic compounds, or could it result in a
fire, explosion, etc.?
– Are storage facilities appropriate for the type of materials used? Can
incompatible materials be properly segregated?
– What possible accidents can occur and what steps can be taken to
minimize the likelihood and impact of an accident?
– What are the proper procedures for disposal of the chemical(s)?
• As an example of process safety consider distillation:
50
The “Apparatus”
If Heated,
What
Would
Happen?
HINT: PV = n RT

51
 Distillation Do’s
• Have apparatus inspected by instructor before using it
• Have apparatus elevated off bench top so heat can be
removed quickly if needed
• Have a clamp around neck of flask so if heat source is
removed, apparatus is still supported
• Make sure water flow goes uphill, and cooling water
ends up going unimpeded down a drain.
• Perform inside hood, behind safety shield, with shield
between your face and the apparatus.

52
 Distillation Don’ts
• Heat a closed system
• Plug in heating mantel directly into outlet
• Use a Bunsen burner as the heat source
• Set up apparatus at awkward angles
• Leave glassware unsupported by clamps
• Let distillate come in contact with hot surfaces
• Have gaps or leaks between joints in glassware

53
 Open System v. Closed System
Always make sure there
is pathway for gases to
go in order to get out
of a container BEFORE
starting any chemical
reaction unless using
specialized equipment
designed to withstand
large pressure
increases. YES NO, A BOMB LIKE THIS
CAN AND WILL HURT YOU

54
GHS Symbols
 Report any concerns
• If you have any safety concerns about the lab you
are working in or the people working around you,
you can contact:
– Your lab instructor
– Head of the departmental safety committee
– Department Chair for Chemistry and Biochemistry

56
 POST TEST (Explain your answers)
1. Whose responsibility is it to be aware of
chemical hazards? 

2. What should you do if there is an untoward

incident that happen during laboratory classes?

3. How do you handle chemical reagents during

laboratory activities?

57
4. Flammable liquids burn only when their vapor
is mixed with air in the appropriate
concentration. What should you do in handling
flammable liquid?

5. Given our set up of classes during the

pandemic? Create your own chemical safety
rules.

58
 1.https://www2.slideshare.net/
csbrprasad/chemical-safety-
69545618?from_action=save

2.file:///G:/DOWNLOADS/ACCRE/
chemical-20safety-20in-20the-
REFERENCES 20workplace-140228040122-
phpapp02.pdf

3.https://www.grainger.com/
product/GRAINGER-APPROVED-
Emergency-Shower-Tester-8ND03

59
SALAMAT

60