Discussion Board 2: Writing Inventory

Working with equipment: Before using glassware (including ceramic), check for cracks and stars. If you see any, get new glassware. Heating or using this glass can be dangerous. When heating test tubes, use a test tube holder, clamp, or hot water bath (for temperatures less than 100 °C). To heat a test tube to temperatures greater than 100 °C, you can heat it directly in the flame. Be careful! Do not use your hand. Point the test tube away from the people around you. Work in a hood if possible. Hold hot beakers with beaker tongs or hot mitts. Support narrow neck items with clamps and a ring stand. For inserting/removing glass tubing in/out of a rubber stopper, refer to the safety video or your instructor for instructions.

When using a Bunsen burner, check the hose for cracks and splits. Get a new hose if necessary. When lighting the burner, light the match before turning on the gas. Strike the match away from you and light the burner. If your burner goes out or you smell gas, turn off the gas. Heat all volatile chemicals with a hot plate and in a hood. Do not put hot objects directly on the bench. Put them on a hot pad or ceramic wire gauze pad. This will keep you from damaging the bench and tell others that those items are hot.

There are some very basic rules for thermometers. Do not shake thermometers to get the liquid down. Use an ice bath to lower the temperature. Do not put a thermometer directly in a flame. These temperatures are in excess of 600 °C. Most of the thermometers in the lab go up to 120 °C. Use the proper range thermometer for your experiment. Lay thermometers on a towel, wire screen, or use an anti-roll attachment. Ideally, all mercury thermometers should be replaced with thermometers containing nontoxic liquids. If you have mercury thermometers, keep a mercury clean up kit handy. Put the thermometer away when finished.