Latest Form 1 Science Notes

Science is a composite subject that deals with the following: Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Biology is the study of living things and how they interact with each other. Learners develop
understanding about life processes, including how the structure and development of cells and systems
allow them to maintain these processes, and ecosystems.
• Chemistry is the study of matter. Matter takes the form of materials that are made up of
substances. Learners develop understanding of atoms, elements and compounds, including how
substances interact, and understand the properties of different substances.
• Physics is the study of the interaction of matter and energy. Learners develop understanding
about energy and forces, how light and sound behave, and how magnets, including electromagnets,
interact.

LABORATORY SAFETY RULES

The following safety rules must be followed at all times in the laboratory. The chemical
laboratory is not necessarily a dangerous place. Intelligent precautions and a proper
understanding of techniques to be followed make the chemistry laboratory no more dangerous
than any other classroom.

1. Safety goggles (department approved) must be worn in the lab at all times. Glasses and
contact lenses are not acceptable eye protection.
Students who do not follow this rule will be asked to leave the lab immediately.

2. Never eat or drink in the lab. Food may pick up toxic chemicals.

3. Never inhale fumes or vapors. Use fume hoods for dangerous or irritating chemicals. Always
waft odors toward your nose with your hand.

4. Never taste any chemical. Some chemicals are very corrosive and poisonous in very small
quantities.

5. Never perform an unauthorized experiment and never work in the lab without an
instructor in charge. An accident may happen when mixing simple chemicals.

6. Never remove anything (chemicals, glassware, etc.) from the lab. It is illegal!

7. Label all containers to identify their contents.

8. Never put anything back into a reagent bottle. Once a reagent has passed the mouth of its
container, it has passed the point of no return.
Always take as little of a chemical as possible. Use only clean, dry spatulas for removing
chemicals from bottles. Properly dispose of excess chemicals.

9. Leave chemicals in their proper place. Do not carry original containers of chemicals to your
benchtop.
10. Avoid touching hot objects. Burns are a common accident in the chemistry lab. Be careful
when using hot plates and objects which have been heated on them. Use beaker tongs to
remove hot containers from the hot plate.

11. Rinse spills off skin immediately. Rinse off any chemicals spilled on the skin immediately
with large amounts of water.

12. Clean up broken glassware immediately. Place it in the labeled crock at the front of the lab.
Obtain replacement glassware from the instructor.

13. Properly dispose of waste chemicals. Certain liquids can be poured into the sink and
flushed with water while others are poured into designated waste containers. Most solid
wastes are placed in designated crocks. Your instructor will provide disposal instructions
each lab.

14. Notify your instructor immediately of all accidents.

15. Learn to locate and operate (if applicable), the safety shower, fire extinguisher, eye-wash
fountain, fire blanket, and fire exit.

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LAB PROCEDURES
The following are procedures that must be followed for all lab sessions. Many are safety issues
as well.
1. Dress properly for lab. Wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible. Sandals are not
permitted. If possible, wear older clothes on lab day. All loose clothing and long hair must be
confined.

2. Read the entire experiment before coming to lab. The instructor will briefly discuss the
experiment at the beginning of each lab.

3. Arrive on time for lab. If a student arrives late for lab and misses a substantial portion of the
introductory discussion and safety precautions, the student may be a threat to themselves
and others in the lab. The instructor may deny the student the privilege of completing the
assigned experiment.

4. Work independently unless otherwise instructed

5. Keep the benchtop uncluttered. Only those personal items pertinent to the lab work (lab
manual, etc.) are to be on the benchtop at a student’s work station. Book bags, coats, etc. are
not to be placed on the benchtop or on the floor close to the lab benches. Place all such
items in the designated areas near the entrance to the lab.

6. Keep drawers closed. Drawers and cabinets are to be kept closed except when items are
being taken from or returned to these drawers.
7. Take only planned breaks. If the need arises to take a short break, you may do so at any time
during the experiment with these points in mind; try to plan the break during a less critical
 time in the experiment (e.g. while something is cooling); make sure that your hot plate is
turned off; inform a neighbor and the instructor.

8. Do not come to lab under the influence of drugs. If, in the judgement of the instructor, a
student presents a safety hazard to himself or his fellow students because the student is
affected by medication, alcohol or other factors, the instructor may refuse to allow the
student to continue working in the lab that day. If the situation is noted more than once, the
student may be permanently removed from the course.

9. Clean up at the end of lab. At the end of all lab sessions return clean glassware to your
drawer, clean your benchtop and finally wash your hands thoroughly. Be sure all electrical
devices and water are turned off.

A Visual Guide to Science Safety Symbols in a Laboratory

Being aware of and understanding the signs in your laboratory as it is vital for good lab maintenance and
day-to-day safety. The laboratory area that you work in every day is bursting with flammable objects,
hazardous chemicals, delicate instruments and items that need to be handled with special care. To
protect laboratory users, it’s imperative that adequate signage is in place to warn and enlighten staff and
students to potential risks.

General Warning
Every time you see this sign, consider it a reminder to act with care in the laboratory. Itacts as a broad
reminder that the area you’re working in is likely to contain hazards and risks and you should work

accordingly

Biohazard
The equipment or materials that you’re dealing with could have been in contact with
biohazardous materials and therefore run the risk of being contaminated. Be sure to wear
appropriate protection. Gloves and goggles could be sufficient or certain situations could
call for full suits to protect the entire body from potentially infectious diseases like covid
19.

Explosive Material Hazard

This symbol indicates that chemicals with explosive properties are present in the area. This could include
unstable explosives that cause dangerous chemical reactions.

Flammable Material
This sign commonly occurs in labs and suggests that flammable materials are likely to be present. Be
sure to keep such chemicals away from heat, open flames and any other heat sources that could cause
them to ignite.

Toxic /poisonous Material

You’ll find this sign in areas where substances are held that could prove harmful to humans if
they are inhaled, ingested or they come into contact with skin.
Non-Ionising Radiation
You’ll find this symbol in areas where non-ionising radiation is present. This includes the full
spectrum of ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwave, radio frequency and extremely low
frequencies.

Ionising Radiation
This symbol denotes that ionising radiation (in other words, radiation that has enough energy to
liberate electrons from atoms or molecules and ionise them) is present. You’ll likely see the
symbol where x-ray equipment, medical beam canons and particle accelerators are found.
Protective clothing must be worn, and the area should be avoided by all but the necessary staff
members.

Low Temperature
The symbol denotes low temperature or cryogenic hazards. These substances are often below freezing
point and stored with chemicals such as liquid nitrogen.
You need thick rubber gloves that reach to the elbows, closed-toe footwear, rubber aprons and
face shields for protection.

Oxidising Material
This symbol indicates the presence of oxidising materials such as bromine, chlorates, nitrates,
perchloric acid and peroxides. The oxygen made by these materials can increase the chance of
fire or explosion and some will have toxic and corrosive properties that can be harmful to the
skin.
Irritant
This symbol is denoted by a large black X on an orange background which has an 'I' on the
bottom right corner. The word irritant means that it will cause your skin to turn red and may
blister. Whilst irritant substances may not cause too much damage, it is still advisable to wear
gloves

Corrosive Material Hazard

The corrosive material hazard symbol warns lab personnel of the presence of substances that
can cause serious harm should they come in contact with skin. Since corrosive chemicals are
able to eat away at and burn the skin, PPE should always be worn while handling these
materials.
Materials labeled as corrosive include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide.

• Skin corrosion/burns
• Eye damage
• Corrosive to metals

Learning science
Science is the study of everything in the universe and scientists go about their work and studies
in a very special way. They use scientific method in making scientific inquiry or investigations.
This, in turn helps scientists to build knowledge known as scientific Knowledge.

Science has two parts, one part is about making a scientific enquiry and this process involves
having ideas, making observations, and carrying out the investigations. The other part involves
collection of scientific facts using the six basic steps listed below:

1. Ask a question (or define a problem)

2. Conduct background research on the question
3. Develop a hypothesis
4. Plan and conduct an investigation to test the hypothesis.
5. Record data (obtaining and presenting the evidence)
6. Analyze the data, draw conclusions, and communicate the results of the experiment

Illustration of how to learn science.

The process scientific investigation
The first step in nearly all scientific investigations is to ask a question.
The question is usually about something that the scientist has observed and wants
to know more about, e.g.:
What is happening?
Why has it happened?
How does it happen?

A scientific question is one that is measurable or very clear and specific.

A non- scientific question is general, not measurable, and can mean many
different things, eg How big is the pond?
The Questions then form a hypothesis.
Hypothesis is the possible explanation to a scientific question, or an intelligent
guess.
e.g. why do some things float in water and others sinks?
Try the simple investigation

# Fairs test / experiment

Fair test is an experiment in which only one factor is changed. This means that
the results of the experiment are unquestionable and valid.

# controlling variables are things that can be changed and they affect the final
result.
Independent variable is the variable that you are interested in that will be
changed in an investigation. All the other possible variables must stay the same. If
more than one variable changes, then you do not know which variable has caused
the effect. Dependent variable is the variable that you think will be affected by
the change in the independent variable.
Control group is a group that is used to compare your experimental group. Thus,
without a control, you cannot tell whether or not a change has happened in your
experimental group.
Experimental group is the group in which you made a change to the independent
variable that you are interested in.

SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS

Science process skills are the skills scientists use to study and investigate the
world. They are included in the table below:
Table on science process skills
Observing Experimenting Communicating
Comparing Inferring Interpreting
Classifying Predicting Controlling variables
Solving problems Analyzing making hypotheses