SOPs

A. using needles and syringes

1. Using needles and syringes properly is important to avoid getting accidentally stuck by the needle or exposed to chemicals.

2. Be careful taking the cap off the needle. Most people are stuck by needles at this point. Try to gently bend the needle at the base to break the seal.

3. If the plunger sticks at all, discard the syringe and needle immediately

B. using bromine

1. wear gloves at all times when handling a container that has bromine in it.

   1. check your gloves after you handle that container to ensure that no bromine has gotten on them.

   2. If they have been exposed, change the gloves immediately.

2. If you have been exposed to bromine on your skin, rinse the area thoroughly with water for 15 minutes.

3. If you have a small bromine spill, you must rinse the area with sodium thiosulfate solution and refer to the spill EOS.

C. disposing of solid chemical waste

1. any solid chemicals that you no longer need.

   1. NOT: gloves, weigh boats, or paper towels

2. disposed in the solid waste container

C. disposing of trash

1. weigh boats, gloves, and paper towels

2. disposed in trash cans

C. disposing broken glass

1. dispose in the broken glass bins

2. be careful handling glass

C. disposing liquid chemical waste

1. Dispose of all liquid chemical waste into the appropriate container

2. lift the lid before pouring the waste into the container.

3. If the container is full, inform your TA so that a new one can be obtained.

4. Ensure that all acids or bases are neutralized before they are disposed into the aqueous waste container

C. disposing sharp waste (needles, syringes, and razors)

1. Dispose all sharps waste into the sharps container.

2. Never throw it into the trash.

3. All needles will be accounted for and disposed of properly.

D. wearing gloves

1. wear the proper size

2. wear gloves only when handling chemicals

3. do not touch yourself when you are wearing gloves.

4. inspect the gloves while you are wearing them.

   1. If they have any rips or tears in them, dispose of them properly and obtain new ones

5. if you need to exit the lab for anything, you must remove the gloves and dispose of them properly.

E. using acids and bases

1. If you are making an acid or base dilution (in water for instance) from a concentrated solution, always add the concentrated solution to the water (slowly b/c may cause and exothermic reaction)

   1. ice bath sometimes needed

2. If you are adding a strong acid to a strong base, this must be done slowly and often in an ice water bath because the reaction is exothermic.

3. Reacting acids with sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate will release carbon dioxide, so the addition needs to be done slowly, or the solution will fizz over

F. pressure

1. avoid pressure at all costs

2. Never heat a system that is closed.

3. When using a separatory funnel, ensure that you vent it several times.

4. If you have a situation where pressure has built up, let your TA know to ensure that the pressure is released safely

G. using organic chemicals

1. careful to not get exposed to them because many are toxic.

2. Wear gloves when handling the chemicals to avoid getting them onto your hands

3. When handling a liquid organic chemical, transfer it inside the hood and then quickly move it to your own hood to avoid inhaling its vapors.

4. When working with solids, be sure to carefully weigh out the appropriate amounts into the weigh boats.

5. Be sure to have the MSDS on hand for all the chemicals you will be using so that if you need any information, you can get it quickly

H. Glassware

1. Always inspect the glassware before using it to ensure that it doesn’t have any cracks.

2. clean your glassware at the end of the lab thoroughly.

   1. be careful of cuts (very common when cleaning)

3. When assembling a glassware setup for a reaction, be sure to clamp the glassware properly.

   1. Do not use too many clamps because too many makes the setup inflexible and do not use too few clamps

   2. se a Keck clamp wherever you have two pieces of glassware connected by a glass joint.

4. Be sure to grease all joints properly when instructed to do so.

5. Be sure when using the thermometer adapter that it is inserted properly.

6. If you are using a rubber-septa, be sure that it is inserted properly.

7. If you break any glassware, let your TA know immediately.

8. Be sure to use the correct size of container when getting a chemical.

I. heating reactions

1. Most organic compounds can catch fire, (especially the solvents) so it is important to be careful when handling them

2. When you are heating a reaction, ensure that it is not a closed system because this will build up pressure very quickly

3. Never leave a reaction that is being heated unattended.

4. If a reaction is exothermic, such as an acid-base reaction, it often needs to be done slowly to ensure that it does not get out of control