Make sure you know how to light a Bunsen burner. (Your teacher will demonstrate the proper procedure for lighting a burner.) If the flame leaps out of a burner toward you, turn the gas off immediately. Do not touch the burner. It may be hot. Never leave a lighted burner unattended!
When you are heating a test tube or bottle, point the opening away from yourself and others. Chemicals can splash or boil out of a heated test tube.
Never heat a closed container. The expanding hot air, vapors, or other gases inside may blow the container apart, causing it to injure you or others.
Never pick up a container that has been heated without first holding the back of your hand near it. If you can feel the heat on the back of your hand, the container may be too hot to handle. Use a clamp or tongs when handling hot containers or wear heat-resistant gloves if appropriate.
Using Chemicals Safely
Never mix chemicals for “the fun of it.” You might produce a dangerous, possibly explosive substance.
Many chemicals are poisonous. Never touch, taste, or smell a chemical that you do not know for certain is harmless. If you are instructed to smell fumes in an experiment, gently wave your hand over the opening of the container and direct the fumes toward your nose. Do not inhale the fumes directly from the container.
Use only those chemicals needed in the investigation. Keep all container lids closed when a chemical is not being used. Notify your teacher whenever chemicals are spilled.
Dispose of all chemicals as instructed by your teacher. To avoid contamination, never return chemicals to their original containers.
Be extra careful when working with acids or bases. Pour such chemicals from one container to another over the sink, not over your work area.
When diluting an acid, pour the acid into water. Never pour water into the acid.
If any acids or bases get on your skin or clothing, rinse them with water. Immediately notify your teacher of any acid or base spill.
Using Glassware Safely
Never heat glassware that is not thoroughly dry. Use a wire screen to protect glassware from any flame.
Keep in mind that hot glassware will not appear hot. Never pick up glassware without first checking to see if it is hot.
Never use broken or chipped glassware. If glassware breaks, notify your teacher and dispose of the glassware in the proper trash container.
Never eat or drink from laboratory glassware. Thoroughly clean glassware before putting it away.
Using Sharp Instruments
Handle scalpels or razor blades with extreme care. Never cut material toward you; cut away from you.
Notify your teacher immediately if you cut yourself when in the laboratory.
Working With Live Organisms
No experiments that will cause pain, discomfort, or harm to animals should be done in the classroom or at home.
Your teacher will instruct you how to handle each species that is brought into the classroom. Animals should be handled only if necessary. Special handling is required if an animal is excited or frightened, pregnant, feeding, or with its young.
Clean your hands thoroughly after handling any organisms or materials, including animals or cages containing animals.
End-of-Experiment Rules
When an experiment is completed, clean up your work area and return all equipment to its proper place.
Wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after every experiment.
Turn off all burners before leaving the laboratory. Check that the gas line leading to the burner is off as well.
Table of Contents
- Formulas and Equations
- Applying Formulas and Equations
- Mean, Median, and Mode
- Estimation
- Using Measurements in Calculations
- Effects of Measurement Errors
- Accuracy
- Precision
- Comparing Accuracy and Precision
- Significant Figures
- Calculating With Significant Figures
- Scientific Notation
- Calculating With Scientific Notation
- Dimensional Analysis
- Applying Dimensional Analysis