Laboratory+Techniques

Laboratory Safety:
 * Take responsibility for your own actions.
 * Always follow directions. Make sure you have read the instructions thoroughly before beginning the lab.
 * Make sure there is an instructor present while you are working in the laboratory.
 * Do not touch anything if you don't know what it is.
 * No food or beverage in the laboratory.
 * Do not taste or inhale any substances involved in the lab unless instructed to do so and the materials are safe.
 * Only do the experiments that you are told to perform.
 * Read or write a procedure before beginning a lab.
 * Keep your work area clean and tidy.
 * Make sure not to leave materials where someone may knock them over or trip.
 * If told to smell a substance, waft it rather than smell it directly.
 * Know where the exits are in case of emergency.
 * Know where all safety equipment is located and how to use it (first aid kit, fire extinguisher, fire blanket, eye wash, shower)
 * Know where the safety button is that turns off all the electricy in the room in case of an electrical emergency.
 * When using the eye wash, make sure your eyes are held in the wash for fifteen minutes to fully clean them.
 * Be sure to dispose of all chemicals properly.
 * Before pouring a substance down the drain of the sink, verify with your instructor that it is safe to do so with that chemical.
 * Remember to dilute a solution before pouring it down the drain.
 * Pull your hair back before you begin working.
 * If you have contacts, you should avoid wearing them during a lab because if the lab involves heat, the heat can have a negative effect on the contacts, causing blurred vision.
 * On the day of the lab do not wear open toed shoes or extremely baggy clothing.
 * Sometimes you may need a lab apron.

Accidents and Injuries:
 * Report all accidents and injuries to the instructor.
 * If there is any broken labware tell the instructor immediately.

Chemicals:
 * Never return unused chemicals to their original containers.
 * Check all labels before using a chemical.
 * Do not put the chemicals near you face, mouth, or eyes.
 * If you are working with something flammable, make sure to keep it away from open flame.
 * Never directly smell a substance; use the wafting method. Some substances should not be smelled at all and should be dealt with under a hood only.

Glassware and Equipment:
 * Never handle broken glass.
 * Dispose of broken glass in the designated box for broken glass.
 * Always unplug equipment when not in use.
 * When removing an electrical cord from a socket pull the plug, not on the cord.
 * Do not put hot glassware in cold water.

Heating Substances:
 * Exercise extreme caution!
 * Never leave a lit burner unattended.
 * Never look directly into something that is being heated.
 * Always keep a safe distance away from burner.
 * If heating an open testube over a flame, direct the opening away from yourself and others.


 * ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SAFETY GOGGLES !**

Effects of Common Mistakes on your Data:
 * When taking a measurement of any type, be sure that you use the correct unit. If an incorrect unit is used, if you need to do calculations using the data, your information may be wrong.
 * If you need to mass something that you can not directly place on the balance, be sure that you zero the balance after placing your container on it, or subtract the mass of the container afterward. Otherwise this will effect your data calculations.
 * If you need to dilute a solution, if you calculate the amount of water needed to be added, the solution will not be of right molarity and could affect any data you get from the experiment.
 * When using a burett, notice the way it is labeled. If zero is at the bottom, be sure you are reading how much solution you have used, not how much solution is left.