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Department of Chemistry SAFETY TEST ANSWER KEY 1) Who should be immediately called for
assistance in case of an accident in the laboratory? Your laboratory instructor. Your instructor should be trained to assist with
emergency first aid until qualified medical assistance arrives. 2) What must be worn in the laboratory at all
times to decrease the likelihood of an eye injury? Goggles or approved glasses. Contact lenses should be worn only with GOGGLES
or FACE SHIELD. Anything getting under a contact lens will not wash out unless the lens is
removed. 3) a) What should you
do if something gets in your eye? Go to the nearest eyewash and continue to
flush your eyes with WATER for about 15 minutes holding the eyelids open. b) What devices can you use? Note their
location. Use the eyewash located on the front lab
table, or the eyewash bottles located at the entrance door, or the
eye-face-body spray located next to the front lab table. Make sure you familiarize yourself with operating
these devices before you start working in the laboratory. 4) a) What should be immediately used for a
large chemical spill on the clothing? Use the safety shower. All contaminated
clothing must be removed as drenching will only dilute the chemical absorbed
by clothing, not wash it away. Washing should continue for at least 15 minutes or until no chemical remains in
contact with the skin. Qualified medical assistance should be obtained immediately
to assess any possible injury. b) Where is it? It is located near the front door of the
laboratory. 5) Why is it important to keep the lab benches
free of book bags, coats, etc.? A cluttered work area always increases the chances
for accidents to happen. Using or keeping your bags, coats, and books on
your lab bench increases the chances For reaction vessels to get knocked over and
spill, for equipment to break, something catching on fire. Spillage can also damage
your books and other belongings kept in your working area. 6) Why is it forbidden to wear headphones in
the laboratory? Headphones obstruct hearing. Students in the
laboratory need to pay attention at all times. Your instructor needs to be able to communicate
with you without delay in your response. This is particularly important in emergency situations. 7) What precautions have to be taken with
equipment that was or is being heated (e.g. crucibles, ringstands,
etc.)? Any equipment that may have been or is being
heated has to be handled with extreme care in order to avoid burns. Hot items that need to be moved have to be
handled with tongs, hot test tubes with a test tube holder. Equipment that was being heated can be checked
for its temperature by approaching it slowly with the inside of your wrist where the
skin is sensitive enough to detect radiating heat from a distance. 8) Why is it dangerous to leave an ignited
Bunsen burner unattended? a) When
the burner is adjusted to mix only a very small amount of air with the gas, the blue flame becomes almost invisible. This can
result in a burn if someone not noticing the flame reaches over it on the lab bench. b) The flame can go out which results in
emission of gas into the laboratory atmosphere. 9) Why is it dangerous to leave a reaction
unattended while heating it? a) An
unattended reaction can become a safety hazard. Material can splatter from the container at any time. If the reaction is heated to
dryness, it can splatter from its container.
10) Why is smoking forbidden in the
laboratory? Smoking in the laboratory is a fire hazard. It
also runs the risk of possible ingestion of chemicals. 11) a) What is a
"contained" fire? A contained fire has not spread beyond the
boundaries of the container. b) What is a simple method to put out a small,
"contained" fire? Cover it to smother it. A small, contained fire in a test tube or a
beaker can easily be put out by covering it with a watch glass or beaker to smother the flames. Do not use papers or towels as they may catch
fire. 12) a) What can be
used to smother a clothing fire? If clothing catches fire you can use the
SAFETY SHOWER or the FIRE BLANKET. When using the blanket, the individual should be
wrapped in the blanket and rolled on the floor. b) Where is it? Both are located near the front door of the
laboratory. 13) a) What should be
used to put out an "open" fire in the laboratory? Use a FIRE EXTINGUISHER. b) Where are they? Fire extinguishers are located at each door in
every laboratory as well as along the wall opposite to the instructor’s bench. 13) a) What should be used to put
out an “open” fire in the laboratory? Use a FIRE
EXTINGUISHER. b) Where are
they? Fire
extinguishers are located at each door in every laboratory as well as along the wall opposite to the instructor’s bench. 14) Describe the steps of using a fire extinguisher. a) break the
plastic seal holding the metal pin in place
b) remove the pin c) stand 6 to
8 feet from the fire d) aim at the
base of fire with nozzle e) discharge
the extinguisher moving it slowly side to side 15) Why must long hair, neckties, scarves, etc. be secured
or tied back in the laboratory? Long hair, neckties, scarves, etc. need
to be confined in order to prevent them
from extending
into the work area where it could catch fire, get into chemicals or get caught in apparatus. 16) What is the safest type of clothing recommended for
wear in the laboratory? When working in the laboratory do not
wear clothing that is frilly or flared or
has loose, flowing sleeves. Remove bulky sweaters,
especially those with brushed finish. Generally, clothing composed of nonsynthetic material is best. Synthetics tend to burn and melt,
sticking to the skin. Laboratory aprons and lab coats are recommended. 17) What is the safest type of footwear recommended for
wear in the laboratory? Recommended
footwear should have low heels and be composed of leather or equivalent material. Shoes should have no open spaces in
order to prevent spills from getting on the feet. Canvas shoes tend to absorb liquids.
Sandals offer no foot protection and are not permitted in
the laboratory. 18) Why is eating or drinking not permissible in the
laboratory? Eating and
drinking are not permitted in the laboratory due to the possible ingestion of chemicals. One should always take the precaution
of washing the hands with soap upon leaving
the laboratory. 19) What do you do with excess chemicals? Briefly describe
the procedures for a) nonhazardous liquids Nonhazardous liquids that are miscible with water and are
non odorous can be poured down the
drain. b) nonhazardous solids Nonhazardous, water soluble, non odorous solids can be dissolved in
water and poured down the drain or can be disposed of in the appropriate
containers in the laboratory. c) and d)
hazardous or odorous substances
Hazardous substances should be disposed of in properly labeled waste
containers
(e.g. “Flammable Liquids,” “Heavy Metals,” etc.) e) recyclable
materials Recyclable materials should be disposed of in
properly labeled containers.
20) Why should reagents not be a) stored in your drawer? There is always
the possibility of fumes given off or spilling of the material. This could result in another individual
becoming contaminated with an unidentified
chemical. b) taken from the laboratory? Even if
properly labeled, outside of the laboratory chemicals are not safe to handle. Due to the lack of the necessary
equipment outside of the laboratory to handle chemicals
safely, they can be mishandled or misused, thus, resulting in injury. 21) What precautions have to
be taken before using any kind of glassware from your drawer? Always check for
cracks in glassware to be used. Chipped or broken glass can cause cuts.
Cracked glassware will break much easier, especially when heated. 22) Where do you dispose of
broken glass? Broken glass can be disposed of in the
plastic box on the front bench in every laboratory which is labeled “broken
glass.” 23) Why must balances and
weighing areas be kept clean? a) To prevent
the possibility of contact with unidentified chemicals that may cause burns or irritations. b) Balances should be kept clean for
optimum performance. 24) When is it necessary to
work under a ventilation hood? If irritating,
potentially toxic or odorous substances evolve during a chemical
reaction, the reaction has to be carried out in a fume hood. If fumes are generated unexpectedly,
turn off any heating device and move the apparatus
under the fume hood as quickly as possible. If exposed to vapors, get fresh air
immediately. 25) What is the proper procedure to use
to note the odor of a substance? Hold the
container with the substance about a foot away from your face. Cup your hand and waft the vapors towards your nose. Do not sniff the material at the
opening of the container as the odor may be too strong and may
overcome you. 26) Why must chemical reagents
be added cautiously? When adding
chemical reagents to a reaction, always add the materials slowly with stirring. This will help to keep the reaction under
control and prevent splattering or foaming. 27) How do you dilute
concentrated acids? When diluting
acids, or any concentrated solution, always pour the acid, or concentrated solution into
water. Dilution is often accompanied by heat,
and splattering may occur if liquids are mixed in the wrong
order. The concentration is cut down faster when the acid is added to
the water, and in case splattering still
occurs, it will be the dilute acid splattering instead of the more
concentrated one. 28) a) What is the
purpose of adding a few boiling stones or chips to liquids to be heated? Boiling chips or stones promote smooth
boiling and prevent bumping. b) When do you add the boiling stones
or chips to liquids to be heated? Add boiling
stones at the beginning, when the liquid is still cold or only slightly warm.
If boiling stones are
added to a hot liquid, it may boil over the sides of the container. 29) If a test tube cannot be heated in a water bath you
may have to heat it over an open flame. a) How do you
hold the test tube? Hold the test tube with a
test tube holder. b) How full should it be? Do you add
boiling stones? The test tube should be
1/3 to 1/2 full. Add boiling stones. c) Where should the opening be pointed? The opening of the tube
should be pointed away from your or anybody else’s face. d) Where in the flame is it held? It is held at the top of
the blue core of the flame. e)
Do you hold it stationary or in motion? Move the tube up and down
in the flame. 30) What should you do in case
of a power failure, fire drill, or any emergency as such? In case of
emergency situations during which the laboratories have to be evacuated, it is important that students remember to shut down all gas burners, water,
air, and electrical operations before leaving the lab. |