School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Course: Chemistry and Materials Science Laboratory
Academic Year: 2025
Note: Labs delivered this semester are available under the Subject resources page/Canvas.
General Lab Rules (pg. 1)
Laboratory Assessments (pg. 3)
LAB 1: Physical properties of Materials (pg. 4)
LAB 2: Chemical Reactions (pg. 13)
LAB 3: Solution making and titration (pg. 29)
LAB 4: Mechanical Properties (pg. 36)
LAB 5: Metallic Corrosion (pg. 46)
LAB 6: Phase Equilibrium Diagrams (pg. 57)
LAB 7: Heat treatments of steels and Metals Processing (pg. 65)
Appendices (pg. 73)
Periodic table (pg. 73)
Safety procedures and rules (pg. 74)
Consult Faculty of Science safety procedures (details at the end).
Each student must complete a lab safety quiz before participating.
Students must only enter labs with a demonstrator present.
Mandatory safety gear: safety glasses, lab coat, covered shoes, and long pants.
No food, drinks, or smoking in labs.
Report equipment failure and safety concerns immediately.
Keep lab benches uncluttered and aisles clear for safety.
Understand instructions before starting any experiments.
Follow written lab procedures; unauthorized experiments are prohibited.
Maintain undivided attention during lab activities; no music or entertainment devices.
Report all accidents, no matter how minor.
Familiarize yourself with safety & first-aid equipment locations.
Always leave the lab area clean and wash hands before leaving.
Complete the lab safety quiz for entry.
Attendance marked during lab sessions, late entry not permitted.
Assessment via in-class submission and online submission via Canvas.
In-class marks provided the following week.
Assessment Weight: 40% for Assessment Task 1.
Must achieve 50% on Assessment Task 1 to pass.
Late submission follows Faculty of Science guidelines.
Essential steps include completing safety quiz, wearing PPE, and timely submissions.
Safety: Wear safety glasses, lab coat, covered shoes, and long pants.
Purpose: Introduce basic materials properties.
Learning Outcomes: Understand material categories, density, thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, stiffness, and electrical conductivity.
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE): Amount material expands/contracts when temperature changes, expressed as length/length/°C.
Thermal Conductivity: Ability of a material to conduct heat, denoted by κ (Wm−1K−1).
Density: Mass per unit volume, calculated as Density (ρ) = mass/volume.
Electrical Conductivity: The reciprocal of resistivity; measured in S/m.
Conduct tests on four different materials to determine CTE, thermal conductivity, density, and electrical conductivity, recording observations and results.
Thermal Expansion: Measure length changes.
Thermal Conductivity: Keep track of time vs temperature changes in rods.
Density: Measure volume and calculate density for given samples.
Electrical Conductivity: Use LCR meter for conductivity measurements.
Part I: Measure resistivity for aluminum and steel rods using automatic LCR meter and convert to conductivity.
Part II: Conduct measurements for glass and perspex using LCR meter at specified frequency.
Convert readings from the LCR meter to find conductivity. Formulas/Methodology provided in the lab guidelines.
Stiffness: Measure how much material elastically deforms under load.
Gather data on deflections under tested loads and check for yield vs elastic behavior.
Yield Strength: Key engineering stress to consider in designs, measured by determining stiffness modulus.
Collect and analyze data on CTE, conductivity, density, and stiffness from measurements. It's crucial to graph results for visual confirmation of trends.
Purpose: Perform and observe chemical reactions, learning to name reactants and products.
Safety Procedures: Safety attire is a must. Familiarize with SDS for used chemicals.
Sodium Hydroxide 0.1M Solution: Irritating and must be handled with care. Report all health-related issues.
Copper Sulfate 0.05-0.5M Solution: Store safely, may cause allergic reactions.
Evidence of Reactions: Formation of gas, solids (precipitates), color changes, or temperature shifts.
Classification of Reactions: Combination, decomposition, neutralization, precipitation, and gas-forming reactions.
Specific examples will be noted in actual lab sheets during experimentation.
List of cations and anions provided, essential for understanding reactions involving ionic compounds.
Example reactions for synthesis and decomposition illustrating basic principles.
In-depth safety regulations for lab sessions, environment responsibility, and understanding safety data sheets.
Personal protective equipment protocols.
Emergency reporting and cleanup protocols.
List of 0.1 M chemical solutions for use during labs.
Structured methodological instructions on conducting various experiments including observations, balanced equations, and data recording.
Lessons and experiments progressively detailed, focusing on properties, safety, and processes involved in materials science and chemistry.
Tables: Periodic table and safety procedural guidelines for all labs.