2023 CHEMISTRY LAB SAFETY

 

 

CHEMISTRY LAB SAFETY PLAYLIST

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjAD83B4JaY&list=PL4qaj9envIYnBaQSPpcOMUqWiQUAgPoMq

 

UNIVERSITY LAB SAFETY PLAYLIST

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWSymRPCDN4&list=PLLG7h7fPoH8I-2LK4vx0jahTH4CEEk1bH

 

 

SAFETY FIRST!!!!

 

1. American Chemical Society (ACS) Safety Center

   • URL: ACS Safety Center
      

2. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

   • URL: NIOSH - Chemical Safety
      

3. Chemical Safety Board (CSB)

   • URL: Chemical Safety Board
      

4. Safety and Health Information Network (SHIN)

   • URL: SHIN - NIOSH

 

Chemistry can be dangerous, always make sure to read the safety data sheets before handing dangerous chemicals.
 

 

MATERIAL SAFETY DATASHEETS (MSDS)

 

1. The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) provides a standardized format for safety data sheets: https://unece.org/ghs-rev2-2007
    

2. Contact the manufacturer of a chemical for their safety data sheet.

Here are some examples of different kinds of SDSs that can be found in the field of chemistry:
 

1. SDS for pure chemicals
    

2. SDS for mixtures of chemicals
    

3. SDS for laboratory chemicals
    

4. SDS for industrial chemicals
    

5. SDS for consumer products

    

   SDSs for radioactive chemicals, hazardous waste, and explosives
    

6. Specialized SDSs for certain types of chemicals or mixtures.
    

• Nanomaterials

• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

• Emerging contaminants (ECs)

• Mixtures of unknown composition (UVCBs)
   

Some organizations may develop their own custom SDSs that meet their specific needs.


COMMON DANGEROUS EXPERIMENTS

These experiments tend to hurt chemists frequently, be extra careful:
 

• Working with alkali metals: Alkali metals are highly reactive metals that can cause burns and fires if they are not handled properly. Some examples of alkali metals include lithium, sodium, and potassium.
   

• Working with metal hydrides: Metal hydrides are highly reactive compounds that can release hydrogen gas if they are exposed to water or air. Some examples of metal hydrides include sodium hydride, lithium aluminum hydride, and potassium borohydride.
   

• Working with organometallic compounds: Organometallic compounds are compounds that contain a bond between a carbon atom and a metal atom. Organometallic compounds can be toxic and can also cause fires and explosions. Some examples of organometallic compounds include methyllithium, dimethylcadmium, and tetramethyllead.
   

• Working with pyrophoric compounds: Pyrophoric compounds are compounds that can spontaneously ignite when they are exposed to air. Some examples of pyrophoric compounds include white phosphorus, triethylaluminum, and dimethylzinc.
   

• Working with high-energy lasers: High-energy lasers can cause serious eye damage and can also cause fires.
  
   

SAFETY TIPS
 

• Always be aware of your surroundings and know where the nearest fire extinguisher and eyewash station are located.
   

• Never work alone in the lab.
   

• Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, goggles, and a lab coat.
   

• Be careful when using glassware and sharp objects.
   

• Dispose of waste chemicals properly.
   

If you are ever unsure about how to safely conduct an experiment, please ask your supervisor or an expert for help.

 

HAZARD PROFILES OF CHEMICALS—RESOURCES
 

1. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS): The NIEHS website provides access to a variety of resources on chemical safety, including the ToxNet database, which contains hazard profiles for over 400,000 chemicals. Website: NIEHS
    

2. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI): The NCBI website provides access to a variety of resources on biomedical and genomic information, including PubChem, a database that contains information on over 100 million chemicals, including hazard profiles. Website: NCBI
    

3. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): The OSHA website provides access to a variety of resources on workplace safety and health, including the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, which requires employers to provide hazard profiles for all hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Website: OSHA
    

4. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): The ATSDR website provides access to a variety of resources on the health effects of hazardous substances, including the Toxicological Profiles database, which contains hazard profiles for over 300 chemicals. Website: ATSDR
    

5. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA website provides access to a variety of resources on environmental protection, including the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database, which contains hazard profiles for over 500 chemicals. Website: EPA
    

6. ChemSpider: ChemSpider is a free online database that contains information on over 75 million chemicals. It includes hazard profiles, as well as other information on chemical properties, spectra, and biological activity. Website: ChemSpider
    

7. Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC): The RSC website provides access to a variety of resources on chemistry, including the RSC Hazard Database, which contains hazard profiles for over 1 million chemicals. Website: RSC
    

8. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): The ACGIH website provides access to a variety of resources on occupational safety and health, including the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) database, which contains occupational exposure guidelines for over 700 chemicals. Website: ACGIH
    

9. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): The IARC website provides access to a variety of resources on cancer research, including the IARC Monographs database, which contains evaluations of the carcinogenicity of over 1,000 chemicals. Website: IARC
    

10. European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): The ECHA website provides access to a variety of resources on chemicals in Europe, including the REACH database, which contains hazard profiles for all chemicals registered in Europe. Website: ECHA
     

11. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): The OECD website provides access to a variety of resources on environmental protection, including the eChemPortal, which contains hazard profiles for over 100,000 chemicals. Website: OECD

 

 

HOW TO TEST AN UNKOWN COMPOUND

 

Here is a general overview of how to determine the chemical structure of an unknown compound:
 

1. Isolate and purify the compound. This is important because it will ensure that you are testing only the compound of interest and not a mixture of compounds.
    

2. Determine the elemental composition of the compound. This can be done using a variety of methods, such as elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and flame photometry.
    

3. Determine the functional groups present in the compound. This can be done using a variety of chemical tests, such as the Fehling's test for aldehydes and ketones, the Benedict's test for reducing sugars, and the Tollens' test for aldehydes.
    

4. Use spectroscopic methods to obtain more information about the structure of the compound. IR spectroscopy can be used to identify the functional groups present in the compound. NMR spectroscopy can be used to determine the carbon skeleton of the compound and the number and type of hydrogens attached to each carbon atom. Mass spectrometry can be used to determine the molecular weight of the compound and to fragment the molecule to produce smaller ions that can be identified.
    

5. Once you have gathered all of this information, you can start to propose possible chemical structures for the compound. You can then test these proposed structures by performing additional chemical tests and spectroscopic measurements.
   
   
   USE A SPECTROSCOPE TO DETERMINE THE STRUCTURE OF A COMPOUND
    

• IR spectroscopy: IR spectroscopy can be used to identify the functional groups present in a compound by analyzing the absorption of infrared radiation by the compound. For example, the presence of a C-H bond is indicated by a peak at around 3000 cm-1, while the presence of a C=O bond is indicated by a peak at around 1700 cm-1.
   

• NMR spectroscopy: NMR spectroscopy can be used to determine the carbon skeleton of a compound and the number and type of hydrogens attached to each carbon atom by analyzing the interaction of the compound's nuclei with a magnetic field. For example, a carbon atom with four hydrogens attached to it will produce a singlet peak in the NMR spectrum, while a carbon atom with three hydrogens attached to it will produce a doublet peak.
   

• Mass spectrometry: Mass spectrometry can be used to determine the molecular weight of a compound and to fragment the molecule to produce smaller ions that can be identified. For example, a compound with the molecular formula C2H6O will produce a parent ion with the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of 46.0684. This ion can then be fragmented to produce smaller ions, such as the CH3+ ion (m/z = 15.0274) and the H2O+ ion (m/z = 18.0101).
   

By analyzing the IR, NMR, and mass spectra of a compound, you can obtain a wealth of information about its chemical structure. This information can then be used to propose and test possible chemical structures for the compound.

Determining the chemical structure of an unknown compound can be a challenging task, but it is also a rewarding one. By using the methods described above, you can unravel the mysteries of the molecular world and learn more about the compounds that make up our world.

 

SAFETY FIRST

 

Before testing a compound, it is important to know if it is safe to do so. There are a few things you can do to assess the safety of a compound:
 

• Consider the physical appearance of the compound. Is it a solid, liquid, or gas? What color is it? Does it have any unusual odors?
   

• Research the known properties of the compound. Is it known to be toxic, flammable, or corrosive?
   

• Consult with a safety expert. If you are unsure about the safety of a compound, it is always best to consult with a safety expert, such as a chemist or toxicologist.

   

SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR TESTING COMPOUNDS
 

• Always wear personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes gloves, goggles, and a lab coat.
   

• Work in a well-ventilated area. This will help to minimize your exposure to any harmful fumes or vapors.
   

• Use small quantities of the compound. This will help to reduce the risk of any accidents.
   

• Dispose of the compound safely. Once you have finished testing the compound, dispose of it in accordance with all safety regulations.
  
  If you are unsure about the safety of a compound, it is always best to err on the side of caution and not test it.
  
  
  EXAMPLES OF SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN TESTING COMPOUNDS:
   

• Solids: When testing solid compounds, be sure to grind them into a fine powder before testing. This will help to ensure that the compound is evenly distributed and that it reacts more quickly.
   

• Liquids: When testing liquid compounds, be sure to use a dropper or pipette to dispense the compound. This will help to avoid spills and splashes.
   

• Gases: When testing gaseous compounds, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area and to wear a respirator to protect yourself from inhaling the gas.