3 HANDS-ON
WARM UP
- Which do you enjoy more: class lessons or working in the school laboratories?
- Have you been trained about safety rules to follow in the lab?
In the Chemistry Lab
Chemistry labs
Chemists1 conduct their research and experiments in laboratories which house all the apparatuses needed to explore chemical concepts, prepare and analyse samples and test the structures and properties of chemicals.
Safe procedures
Chemists working in a laboratory must follow safety rules1 since they often use dangerous chemicals, which must be treated with care to avoid accidents. Chemists usually wear an apron or a lab coat to protect themselves against accidental spilling or splashing. When handling especially dangerous chemicals, they may wear latex gloves and safety glasses to protect their eyes.
School lab work allows students to reinforce what they have learnt in class and to acquire the scientific skills needed to work in a professional environment. Different experiments should be performed under the supervision of the teacher and the lab assistant. Students must behave responsibly and follow any instructions given, know the location and operating procedures of all safety equipment, read labels and equipment instructions carefully before use, handle tools and chemicals properly, and learn how to dispose of waste correctly.
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1 The word 'chemist' may be used to refer both to a person involved in chemistry and to a person working in a pharmacy.
DO
1 Have fun listening to this science song:
LAB RULES – Dua Lipa "New Rules" Parody | SCIENCE SONGS posted by AsapScience
Lab work
Chemistry laboratories vary greatly depending on the kind of work being performed. In a school laboratory, students perform a wide variety of experiments. The students work at workbenches, whose top is made of a material that resists corrosion by chemicals. The top of the lab table may contain sinks, used for the disposal of liquid chemicals and for cleaning apparatuses, and special outlets providing water, gas for laboratory burners, and electricity.
Safety equipment
A chemistry laboratory must have the necessary safety equipment – first aid kit, safety chart, fire extinguisher, fire blanket, eye-wash, and a fume hood to reduce exposure to dangerous fumes or vapours.
