LABORATORY INSTRUCTION

Chemistry Practical

Department of Chemistry
Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya
Bilaspur-495 009, C.G., BHARAT
Department of Chemistry
Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya
Bilaspur-495 009, C.G., INDIA

Prof. G. K. Patra (HoD) – 75873 12992, Prof. K. Dewangan (9691012090)

Introduction to the Chemistry Laboratory

General Guidelines
 First and foremost, attendance is mandatory. Absence is only permitted for medical
reasons. You will be docked 25% of the total marks for every experiment that you are
absent. No repeat turn is granted for an experiment missed due to absence.
 You are expected to be in the lab on time.
 Wearing a lab coat, safety goggles, and shoes is MANDATORY.
 It is your responsibility to bring a scale, pencil, calculator, etc., everyday in the
laboratory. You may need those sometime.
 Completed lab notebooks are due before class the following week (except during Minors).
 Always work honestly and confidently in the laboratory and do not consult your
neighbors.
 Read the experimental procedure and be aware of any dangers with any of the materials.
Unscheduled experiments should not be performed unless specific permission is given
by Instructor/In-charge.
 Do not touch any chemicals or smell gases. It is possible that different people might
react differently on exposure to the same chemical. Therefore, it is best to handle them
with appropriate protection.
 Do not pipette strong acids or bases or organic solvents by mouth (e.g. Chloroform,
Benzene, toluene, etc.). Use a rubber bulb.
 Touch things with care. They may be hot.
 When diluting an acid with water always pour the acid slowly into the water. Do not
pour the water into the acid.
 Read reagent bottle labels carefully before using the contents and do not change the glass
stoppers of reagent bottles.
 Never use a larger amount of chemical substances than the maximum suggested.
 All students must respect the equipment which they use. This means understanding how
to use it safely and correctly before starting to use it. This also means that every
precaution should be taken to prevent damage to laboratory equipment. Quality
equipment used to make accurate and precise measurements is very expensive. You are
required to immediately inform the instructor of any equipment malfunction or damage.
 The computer laboratory should only be used for work related to the laboratory.
 All students are expected to maintain a professional attitude in the laboratory. All
students must treat others in the laboratory with civility and respect. They must conduct
themselves in a way that does not interfere with the opportunity of others to learn. This
includes keeping unnecessary noise to a minimum.
 Also, no one is allowed to leave the laboratory without permission from the
instructor/lab-in-charge.
 An important part of the laboratory is the oral examination of the objective, the theoretical
basis, the experimental method, the expected results, or, in other words, anything even
remotely related to the experiment. You will be examined at random on the experiments
that are being performed or may have performed earlier. Background reading from a
chemistry textbook in addition to reading the handout is definitely required. In addition,
knowledge about the chemistry and instruments related to the analysis is extremely
beneficial.
 You will be graded for your pre-lab preparation, your effort, your laboratory skills, and
your laboratory report.

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Your conduct and safety practices in the laboratory will be graded continuously
during the course of each experiment, and the overall grades will be included in the final
marks in the laboratory to be used for grading. In addition, poor behavior in the laboratory
may lead to expulsion from the laboratory.
Unlike what you may think, it is actually a lot of fun to practice safety and think about
the possible dangers lurking in each experiment. You may even come up with suggestions for
doing the experiments in more safe ways. Once this becomes a habit, it will not leave you for
the rest of your life.
Laboratory Neatness
Neatness is essential for safety and for efficient work in the laboratory.
 If you spill anything anywhere in the laboratory, clean it up immediately and leave a clean
space for your neighbor. This applies particularly to the balances and melting point
apparatus.
 If problems arise, then each week specific students will be given responsibility foreseeing
that certain areas will be clean and orderly at the end of the period. Please cooperate.
 If you spill acids, bases, or other corrosive chemicals, inform the instructor, wash
contaminated surfaces with copious amounts of water, and then neutralize them as
directed by the instructor.
 For reasons of safety and obtaining dependable results, all glassware must be thoroughly
clean. After disposing of contents responsibly (see waste disposal instructions for each
experiment), wash glassware with hot soapy water and a test tube brush. In some cases,
organic compounds may not be removed by detergent and require a small acetone rinse.
Laboratory Reagents
 Most of the reagents used in this laboratory are irritants and/or toxic. Be careful handling
reagents. Gloves are available should you wish to use them but remember that gloves do
not give you 100% protection from all lab reagents. If reagents come in contact with your
skin or gloves, wash them off immediately with soap and water. It is also a good practice
to wash your hands periodically to remove any material that may have been left on your
hands by incidental contact. Finally, be sure to wash your hands with soap and hot water
before leaving the laboratory.
 Use reagent bottles only in the areas where they are provided. Solid reagents for this
course will be set out on benches at the side of the lab near the balances, and occasionally
under the hood. Volatile or corrosive liquid reagents will be under the hood.
 Try to take no more of the reagents than you need.
 If by accident you take an excess amount of a reagent, share it with a fellow student or
dispose of the excess properly. Never pour anything back into a reagent bottle!
 Always dispose of chemicals properly.
 In general, organic wastes are divided into two classes: "halogenated", compounds
containing one or more atoms of F, Cl, Br, or I, and "non-halogenated". Halogenated
compounds require special disposal because of their particular ability to harm the
environment.
Laboratory Equipment
 Keep all metal apparatus in a dry place. Water tends to rust equipment and cause drawers
to swell so that they become difficult to open. Consequently, if you spill water in a drawer,
immediately take time to dry it carefully.

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 Materials used in this laboratory are expensive so try to be careful. Also, excessive loss or
breakage can be an indication of poor organization, technique, or lack of preparation and
can adversely affect your lab grade.
Laboratory Safety Regulations
 You may never under any circumstances work in the laboratory outside of your assigned
laboratory period without permission from the course instructor.
 Your eyes must be protected by goggles at all times. If chemicals come in contact with
your eyes, flush your eyes copiously with water for at least five minutes (The eye wash
station will be demonstrated during the safety lecture).
 Report all accidents to an instructor immediately. First aid is essential. Flush all chemical
splashes with plenty of water. Use the eye wash station for chemicals in your eyes. Use
the spray attached to the eye wash sink to wash spills from your clothing immediately and
wash them out liberally with water after the laboratory period
 No food or drinks are allowed anywhere in the laboratory. If you bring a lunch, snack, or
drink, it must be kept in the hall outside the lab. No food consumption or gum chewing is
allowed in the laboratory. Also, no make-up or lip balm is to be applied in the lab.
 Dispose of any broken glass in the glass disposal box at the back of the laboratory.
 Inform an instructor immediately if a thermometer is broken. Any spilled mercury must
be recovered properly.
 The solvents used in the laboratory (alcohols, ether, petroleum ether, etc.) are highly
flammable. To minimize the danger of fire, no flames are allowed in the laboratory
without specific authorization.
 In case of fire, remain calm. Most fires are contained in beakers or flasks and can be
easily smothered by being covered with a watch glass. More extensive fires should be
smothered using a carbon dioxide extinguisher. Since water does not dissolve many
organic solvents, it will not extinguish most fires but will cause them to spread. So use a
laboratory fire extinguisher rather than water on a fire.
General Safety
 Appropriate clothing must be worn to protect your body from chemical spills. Clothing
must have sleeves and cover you from your neck to your knees. If not suitably covered,
you must wear a lab coat. Failure to do so will lower your lab grade. Closed-toed shoes
are required; you will not be allowed in the lab without them.
 Keep long hair tied back out of the way of chemicals and equipment.
 Beware of hot glassware. Do not touch it until it has had time to cool.
 Avoid contact between laboratory reagents and your skin. Gloves are available in the
laboratory. Wash any affected skin areas immediately with soap and water.
Before you leave check the following
 Are water taps closed?
 Are electric switches off?
 Is the gas burner off?
 Lab table/Apparatus cleaned?
 Chemical/solvent bottle closed and kept in its respective place?

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