Overview
This lecture focuses on specific lab techniques and behaviors to minimize risks during chemical experiments, following the RAMP safety process.
Lab Organization & Cleanliness
- Keep lab spaces clean and uncluttered to reduce trips, spills, and accidental use of wrong chemicals.
- Store away book bags and items unrelated to experiments.
- Periodically check and tidy your workspace; remove unused glassware and excess chemicals.
- Dispose of chemical waste as generated, but keep needed chemicals until finished.
- Protect calculators and phones from chemical exposure using plastic baggies.
Safe Handling of Glassware and Equipment
- Inspect glassware for cracks before use; damaged glass can break easily and cause injury.
- Label all beakers and flasks in use to avoid confusion and mixing of chemicals.
- Pour reagents into a small labeled beaker before filling burettes to control spills.
- Wipe drips from bottles and replace lids immediately; position burettes just below eye level when pouring.
Titration and Pipetting Techniques
- Use pipettes gently to prevent breakage and injury; grasp near the tip when attaching bulbs.
- Never place pipettes into stock solutions to avoid contamination; pipette from a beaker instead.
- Do not return excess solution to the stock; share or dispose of properly.
- Place a beaker under burette tips to catch any spills during transfers.
Chemical Synthesis Safety
- Weigh reagents in small increments and put excess into waste containers to avoid cross-contamination.
- Clean up any spills at the balance immediately.
- Add solids directly to flasks, not carried on weighing paper through the lab.
- Check hot plate cords for damage and keep them off hot surfaces; work on dry surfaces.
- Conduct reactions that release gases or use flammable solvents in a fume hood.
- Use proper tongs or heat-resistant gloves for handling hot glassware; do not substitute tools.
Post-Experiment Procedures
- Share leftover chemicals with lab mates when possible or dispose of them in the correct labeled waste container.
- Never mix incompatible wastes; always close the waste container after use.
- Do not leave any glassware or broken glass in the sink; report to instructor if found.
- Clean work surfaces and return equipment to its place.
- Double-check gas valves are off and remove disposable gloves as directed.
- Wash hands thoroughly when finished.
Key Terms & Definitions
- RAMP — Recognize hazards, Assess risks, Minimize risks, and Prepare for emergencies.
- PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) — Safety equipment used to reduce exposure to hazards.
- Titrant — Solution of known concentration added during titration.
- Analyte — Substance being measured or analyzed in a titration.
- Fume Hood — Ventilated enclosure to safely conduct experiments with volatile or hazardous chemicals.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Watch the other videos in the RAMP series for comprehensive lab safety training.
- Review lab-specific waste disposal instructions provided by your instructor.
- Maintain continuous awareness of lab surroundings and safety protocols.