Safety
Here are some rules that should be followed in every investigation.
  1. Be responsible for your behavior. Broken glassware, spilled acid, and other hazards result from not paying attention. This means no running, pushing, practical jokes, or horseplay in the lab.
  2. Know the location and methods of operation of all safety equipment, including the eye wash station, the fire extinguisher, and the safety shower.
  3. Do not perform experiments that you have not been authorized to perform. This means using only the quantities your instructor provides. Ask if you don’t understand the lab instructions.
  4. Never remove chemicals from the lab.
  5. Know the hazards of the chemicals you are using. You can find these on the material safety data sheets (MSDS), which lists physical characteristics (melting and boiling point, etc.), toxicity and health concerns, storage and reactivity, disposal instructions, and protective equipment (goggles, gloves, etc.).
  6. Never work alone in a lab. An instructor must always be present when you are in the laboratory.
  7. Wear approved eye protection, including safety goggles, at all times, except when explicitly excused from doing so by your instructor. Don’t let your eyes be destroyed by a splash of acid!
  8. If a chemical gets in your eyes, wash them immediately with flowing water from a sink or eye wash station for at least 15 minutes. However, do not point a high-pressure stream of water at your eye. Have someone alert the instructor and get medical attention immediately.
  9. If a chemical spills on your body or clothing, alert your instructor immediately. Wash the affected area with running water. If the affected area is large, use a safety shower. Remove any clothing affected by chemicals to prevent further reactions with skin.
  10. Notify your instructor immediately in case of cuts, burns, or other injuries.
  11. Wear closed-toe shoes in the laboratory at all times. Bare feet and sandals are prohibited.
  12. Clean up spills or broken glass immediately. Use one of the bins provided for broken glass. No paper, plastic, or other trash should go in the broken-glass bin.
  13. Do not eat or drink anything in the laboratory. You never know which chemicals may have been used on a bench or table.
  14. Wash your hands thoroughly before leaving the laboratory. Many chemicals, especially organic solvents, can be easily absorbed through the skin.
  15. Avoid breathing fumes of any kind. If you are instructed to smell something, use your hand to gently waft the scent near your nose. Do not stick your nose into the end of a test tube or into any chemical reaction container.
  16. Although this course will not use them, fume hoods are necessary when working with many hazardous chemicals, such as strong acids.
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