Laboratory Safety and Procedures

PRE-LAB QUESTIONS
1. Mapping Laboratory Safety: Use the following page to draw a map identifying your safety
elements and where you will complete your lab experiments. If you do not possess a
safety item, indicate the location of the closest one that you can use. Use the list below
to identify items on your map.

a. Clean, dry, uncluttered laboratory workspace

b. Window for ventilation

c. Trash can

d. Sink (eye wash station)

e. First aid kit

f. Fire extinguisher

g. Phone

h. Storage location for your eScience Lab materials when not in use

i. Computer

j. Blanket that can be used to smother a fire (fire blanket)

k. Shower that can be used to wash off spilled chemicals (safety shower)

l. Exit door (Diagram on your map the route you will use to leave the building in
case of an emergency.)

m. Smoke detector

n. Dust pan and broom

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Laboratory Safety and Procedures

2. What would you do if you spilled a tiny amount of hydrochloric acid on your hand?

Answer: If a tiny amount of hydrochloric acid spilled on my hand, I will wash my hand
immediately with covered hand gloves
3. Describe a possible danger that can occur if you put food, soda, coffee, pencil erasers,
etc. in your mouth while conducting your chemistry experiments.

Answer: During conducting chemistry experiments in the chemistry lab we should not eat
and drink anything because due to chemical gases there is a great risk of food poisoning
and intake is overall injurious to health during chemistry experiments in the chemistry lab.
4. What information is given on a Safety Data Sheet?

Answer: Safety Data Sheet contains information on the possible dangers regarding
health, fire, reactivity and environmental etc. and how to work safely with the chemical
products. It is also an important preparatory point for the development of a complete
health and safety program.

5. List the optimum clothing, shoes, jewelry, and hair arrangement for your chemistry labs.

Answer: We should wear thick cloths, face masks, hand gloves, aprons and caps during
chemistry experiments in the chemistry lab to ensure optimum safety.
6. What is the date that your fire extinguisher was last examined?

Answer: The date that your fire extinguisher was last examined three months ago by fire
safety team.
7. How old are the batteries in your smoke detector?

Answer: The smoke detector batteries were last replaced two years ago.

8. List the contents from your first aid kit that you will use to treat a minor cut.

Answer: During minor cut Dettol, antiseptic ointment, pain killers, bandages and cottons
can be used to treat a minor cut.
9. List the contents from your first aid kit that you will use to treat a minor burn.

Answer: Firstly, cool down the burnt part of the body then apply an antiseptic ointment and
take a pain killer. Subsequently, bandage the burnt part of the body in open air.

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Laboratory Safety and Procedures

EXPERIMENT 1 DATA SHEET

Data Sheet

Table 1: Initial pH Test Results

Additional
Container Chemical Contents pH Results
Observations
Litmus Color Changes
A Distilled Water 7.0 from Orange to Light
Green
B Sodium Bicarbonate 7.5 – 8.0 Green

C Acetic Acid 2.0 – 3.0 Dark Orange

Table 2: Neutralization

Amount of Acid (mL) pH Results

1 8 (Green)

2 8 (Green)

3 7 (Light Green)

4 5 (Pale Green)

5 6 (Very Light Green)

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Laboratory Safety and Procedures

Post-Lab Questions:
1. Most of the chemicals included in your Introductory Chemistry Lab kit can be discarded
down a drain with copious amounts of water. Describe a situation in which you would
need to neutralize a chemical (pH 7) before discarding down a drain.

Answer: The chemicals that are weak and non-corrosive can be discarded down the drain.
But some chemicals such as strong corrosive acids HCl, H2SO4 should be neutralized first
before discarding down the drain.
This is because these acids can cause corrosion of pipes which may lead to huge leakage
problems in the plumbing.
These acids also have a very negative effect on the wildlife and environment, as this acidic
water can lead to water body inhabited by aquatic wildlife.
2. Why should one add acid to water rather than add water to acid when preparing
solutions?

Answer: One must always add acid to water because:

The heat of solution of acid and water is exothermic, meaning it will release heat.
If we add a drop of water to a volume of acid, it may evaporate instantaneously due to the
heat of enthalpy, this may explode and spill acid everywhere and may even get some acid in
the user.
If we add a drop of acid to water, there is plenty of water with a high heat capacity, the acid
will be diluted very easily as well as the heat generated
3. At what point was the solution in beaker B neutralized?

Answer: The solution of beaker B was neutralized at pH 7 because this is the neutral point
and both acid and base are neutralized at this pH.
4. Address the following scenarios:

 If a stronger solution of sodium bicarbonate was used in beaker B, would it require

more or less acetic acid to neutralize? Why?

 If a weaker solution of sodium bicarbonate was used in beaker B, would that solution
require more or less acetic acid to neutralize it? Why?

Answer: strong solution of sodium bicarbonate would have initial pH around 8.1 and for
its neutralization large amount of vinegar would have been needed because than only
large amount of hydrogen ion could come and neutralize hydroxyl ions. But in weak
sodium bicarbonate solution the vinegar is used less due to weak concentration of
hydroxyl ion.

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