Skill 2.6 Applying procedures for preventing accidents and dealing with emergencies

Skill 2.6 Applying procedures for preventing accidents and dealing with emergencies. 

Disclaimer The information presented below is intended as a starting point for identification purposes only and should not be regarded as a comprehensive guide for safety procedures in the laboratory. It is the responsibility of the readers of this book to consult with professional advisers about safety procedures in their laboratory. 

A beaker (below left) is a cylindrical cup with a notch at the top. Beakers are often used for making solutions. An Erlenmeyer flask (below center) is a conical flask. A liquid in an Erlenmeyer flask will evaporate more slowly than when it is in a beaker and it is easier to swirl about. A round-bottom flask (below-right) is also called a Florence flask. It is designed for uniform heating, but it requires a stand to keep it upright. 

A test tube has a rounded bottom and is designed to hold and to heat small volumes of liquid. A Pasteur pipet is a small glass tube with a long thin capillary tip and a latex suction bulb, and it is used for transferring small amounts of liquid from one contained to another. 

Cleaning glassware becomes more difficult with time, so it should be cleaned soon after the experiment is completed. Wipe off any lubricant with paper towel moistened in a solvent like hexane before washing the glassware. Use a brush with lab soap and water. Acetone may be used to dissolve most organic residues. Spent solvents should be transferred to a waste container for proper disposal. 

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