3 HANDS-ON IN THE CHEMISTRY LAB 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? The word chemist may be used to refer both to a person involved in chemistry and to a person working in a pharmacy. Have fun listening to this science song. LAB RULES - Dua Lipa New Rules Parody | SCIENCE SONGS posted by AsapScience ONLINE RESOURCES How to avoid some common lab accidents Rules of laboratory conduct to acquire: to learn to behave: to conduct fume: gas to handle: to use label: a piece of paper that gives you information about the object it is fixed to outlet: a pipe or hole through which liquid or gas can flow out to perform: to do an action to provide: to give sample: a small amount of a substance sink: basin since: because spilling: falling from a container 36 Chemistry labs Chemists 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 rules 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 A chemistry laboratory THE WONDER OF CHEMISTRY and operating procedures of all safety equipment, read labels and equipment instructions carefully before use, handle tools and chemicals properly, learn how to dispose waste correctly. 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.