CHEM 18.1 - Activity 1 Discussion

Proper Laboratory Attire

Required dress for lab class: closed shoes, long pants, shirt with sleeves; cotton/flammable fabric discouraged; hair tied; no jewelry (except a watch), no contact lenses, nail polish, or false eyelashes.

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Protective gear required during experiments, consisting of a face mask, nitrile gloves, laboratory gown, and splash-proof safety goggles.

Fume Hood

Ventilated enclosure used to handle toxic fumes produced during experiments; sash should be kept as low as possible.

Reagent Bottle Handling Rule

Bottles must stay in their designated area; students bring their own container to the reagent bench instead of moving the bottle.

Acid Dilution Rule

When diluting a concentrated acid, the acid must always be added slowly to water (never the reverse) to avoid spattering and sudden heat release.

Aqueous Solution of Non-Hazardous Waste

Aqueous waste containing non-hazardous chemicals; disposed of down the sink while continuously flushing with tap water.

Acid and Base Waste

Waste containing corrosive acids (e.g., HCl, H₂SO₄, HNO₃, CH₃COOH) or bases (e.g., NaOH, KOH, NH₄OH); must be neutralized (using an ice-water mixture and sodium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, or dilute HCl) before disposal down the sink with flushing.

Contaminated Waste and Solid Chemical Waste

Tissues used to wipe chemical spills, used gloves, etc.; placed in a proper container and disposed of in the trash bin labeled "contaminated waste."

Solid Waste and Filter Paper Waste

Paper, tissue, or filter paper containing non-hazardous chemicals; wrapped in paper and disposed of in the proper trash bin.

Broken Glassware

Non-contaminated broken glass; wrapped in paper, placed in plastic, and thrown in the trash bin labeled "broken glass."

Aqueous Solution of Hazardous Waste

Aqueous waste containing hazardous chemicals; disposed of in designated waste bottles according to waste codes:

D403

Barium (Ba) and its compounds

D405

Chromium (Cr) and its compounds

D406

Lead (Pb) and its compounds

D407

Mercury (Hg) and its compounds

D499

Other inorganic wastes (e.g., Sb, Be, Te, Tl, metal carbonyls, hexavalent Cr, Cu, Zn)

G703

Halogenated organic solvents (≥10% concentration by volume)

G704

Nonhalogenated organic solvents (≥10% concentration by volume)

Fire Extinguisher

Located in a wall-mounted compartment; used to put out small fires.

Red Fire Alarm

Mounted on the wall at eye level along the hallway; used to warn people of a possible fire.

Safety Shower

Located near the lab entrance; used to flush off serious chemical splashes on the body.

Eye Wash Station

Located below the safety shower; used to flush chemical splashes from the eyes.

First Aid Kit

Located near the entrance/exit; used to treat common injuries such as cuts, scrapes, bruises, and sprains.

Spill Kit (e.g., baking soda, sand)

Located at the lab bench next to the exit door; used to neutralize acid spills.

Burns

Small burns are run under cold water for at least 20 minutes; major burns need immediate medical attention.

Chemicals in Contact with Eyes/Face

Flush eyes with running water at an eyewash station for at least 15 minutes (remove contact lenses after an initial rinse), then seek medical attention.

Chemical Splash on Clothes/Body

For large spills, use the safety shower immediately and remove clothing while showering for 15 minutes; for smaller spills, rinse with large amounts of water for 15 minutes.

Cuts

Rinse small cuts with water and bandage; apply pressure and seek medical help if bleeding is extensive.

Fires

If clothing catches fire: STOP, DROP, and ROLL to smother flames (never run); use a cover plate or watch glass to smother small beaker fires; never use a fire extinguisher on a person.

Earthquake

Turn off the gas valve, stay away from falling objects, drop-cover-hold, and follow the instructor's directions.