Title F I , NOTES , 2025 LABORATORY TECHNIQUES, SAFETY AND APPARATUS TOPIC 3.pdf ✅

1 LABORATORY TECHNIQUES AND SAFETY: RULES AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN CHEMISTRY LABORATORY What is a laboratory? A laboratory is a special room or building used for doing scientific experiments Chemistry laboratory is a special room where chemical experiments are conducted CHARACTERISTICS (QUALITIES) OF A GOOD CHEMISTRY LABORATORY. A good chemistry laboratory (i) Should have water, gas and electric supply (ii) Should have large windows for good ventilation and light (iii) Should have more than one door (exits) opening outward (iv) Should have fume chamber for experiments which produces toxic gases (v) Should have a chemical store for keeping laboratory apparatus, chemicals and reagents (vi) Should have preparation room for technician to sit and design scientific experiments (vii) Should have drainage system LABORATORY SAFETY MEASURES Meaning: Laboratory safety measures are measures which put risks to a minimum level so as to minimize or eliminate injuries and exposure to harmful substances. IMPORTANCE OF LABORATORY SAFETY MEASURES (i) Minimize or eliminate injuries (ii) Minimize or eliminate exposure to harmful substances (iii) Protect the environment from being exposed to harmful substances The following are some of the safety measures to be considered in the laboratory (i) The laboratory should be equipped with the working fire extinguishers fitted in accessible position. (ii) Laboratory floors should not be polished to avoid slippery (iii) Each laboratory should contain at least one first aid kit with all the necessary items. (iv) Stored chemicals should be inspected regularly to ensure no use of expired chemicals. (v) All apparatus should be checked regularly to ensure they are safe to use (vi) All chemicals containers should be well-labelled to prevent accidental use of wrong substances (vii) Wear appropriate protective clothing to minimize exposure to hazards to access and use. (viii) Refrigerators and freezers used in the laboratory should be labelled “For chemical use only” (ix) Chemicals which can easily react with each other should not be stored together (x) Cup boards, storage cabinets and drawers should have locks (xi) Emergency exits should be present and easy to access and use. Doors should open outward. (xii) Gas cylinders should be labelled, stored well and supported. They should be in good working condition at all times (xiii) Fume chamber should be labelled. It should be kept in a good working conditions to minimize gas leakage.


4 FRAGILE A substance can easily break. It should be handled with care to prevents it from breaking. For example, glass etc CAREFUL Hazardous can cause damage to organs from short term exposure DANGER OF ELECTRIC SHOCK Means that the substance has high voltage which you should not touch it. KEEP AWAY FROM WATER The caution advice you to keep item away from the water. For example, computer, mobile phones, radio etc RADIO ACTIVE Means that the substance emits harmful radiations that penetrate human body and cause damage. For example, uranium, etc HEALTH HAZARD Hazardous, can cause serious long – term health effects such as cancer, breathing difficulties and damage organs Other safety signs and their meaning are as follow