The following is a summary of rules you should be well aware of in your own
chemistry lab.
- Dress appropriately for the lab. Wear safety goggles and a lab apron or
coat. Tie back long hair. Do not wear open-toed shoes. - Know what safety equipment is available and how to use it. This includes
the eyewash fountain, fire blanket, fire extinguisher, and emergency shower. - Know the dangers of the chemicals in use, and read labels carefully. Do
not taste or sniff chemicals. - Dispose of chemicals according to instructions. Use designated disposal
sites, and follow the rules. Never return unneeded chemicals to the original
containers. - Always add acids and bases to water slowly to avoid splattering. This is
especially important when using strong acids and bases that can generate
significant heat, form steam, and splash out of the container. - Never point heating test tubes at yourself or others. Be aware of reactions
that are occurring so that you can remove them from the heat if necessary
before they “shoot” out of the test tube. - Do not pipette anything by mouth! Never use your mouth as a suction
pump, not even at home with toxic or flammable liquids. - Use the fume hood when dealing with toxic fumes! If you can smell them,
you are exposing yourself to a dose that can harm you. - Do not eat or drink in the lab! It is too easy to take in some dangerous
substance accidentally. - Follow all directions. Never haphazardly mix chemicals. Pay attention to
the order in which chemicals are to be added to each other, and do not
deviate!
SOME BASIC SETUPS
Throughout this book, drawings of laboratory setups that serve specific needs
have been presented. You should be familiar with the assembly and use of each of
these setups. The following list, will enable you to review them in context with
their uses:
■ Preparation of a gaseous product, nonsoluble in water, by water
displacement from solid reactants
■ Preparation of a gaseous product, nonsoluble in water, by water
displacement from at least one reactant in solution
■ Distillation of a liquid
■ Titration