Proper Lab Notebook Keeping
At the end of this lab, students should know...
What is the purpose of a lab notebook?
A lab notebook provides an accurate record of the experiment performed. This is important to ensure reproducibility. A lab notebook is also a legal document that proves originality and ownership of research.
What kind of book can be used as a lab notebook?
A lab notebook must be bound with no loose pages. For lab classes, a notebook with self-duplicating pages is preferre...
Source: Lara Al Hariri at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA
- Preparation of the Laboratory
Here, we show the laboratory preparation for 10 students working in pairs, with some excess. Please adjust quantities as needed.
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Put on a lab coat, splash-proof safety glasses, and nitrile gloves. You'll work in a fume hood because these acids are toxic and corrosive.
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Ensure that the lab has containers for concentrated acid waste, aqueous acid waste, and glass waste.
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Prepare a bottle of concentrated sulfuric acid for each student group. Measure 10 mL of 98% w/w sulfuric acid with a graduated cylinder and pour it into 20-mL bottles using a funnel. Tightly cap the bottles and label them with the solution name and concentration.
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Prepare a bottle of nitric acid for each student group. Measure 10 mL of 70% w/w nitric acid with a clean graduated cylinder and pour it into 20-mL bottles via a clean funnel. Cap the bottles and label them with the name and concentration.
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Set one bottle of nitric acid and one bottle of sulfuric acid at each hood.
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Place a bottle of methyl benzoate in a common hood.
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Put Pasteur pipettes and circular filter papers on a central bench.
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Confirm that the balance area has enough weighing boats, spatulas, and lab wipes for the class.
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Set out the following glassware and equipment at each student lab station (we suggest that students work in pairs):
2Lab stands 3Small 2-prong clamps 2100-mL beakers 1250-mL beaker 1400-mL beaker 1600-mL beaker 310-mL graduated cylinder 150-mL graduated cylinder 125-mL Erlenmeyer flask 1250-mL filter flask 120-mL test tube 1Glass stirring rod 1Large Büchner funnel 1Rubber filter adapter 1Thermometer 2Pipette bulbs 1Roll of lab tape 1Marker/pen 3Small beakers
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View the full transcript and gain access to JoVE Lab Manual videos
Q1: What personal protective equipment should you wear when working in a chemistry lab?
Always wear a lab coat, splash-proof safety glasses, and nitrile gloves when working in the laboratory. These items protect you from chemical splashes and toxic fumes. When handling corrosive acids, work in a fume hood to minimize inhalation exposure and ensure proper ventilation throughout your experiment.
Q2: How do you properly prepare and label acid solutions for lab use?
Measure the required volume of acid using a graduated cylinder and pour it into a labeled bottle via a funnel. For sulfuric acid, measure 10 mL of 98% w/w concentration; for nitric acid, measure 10 mL of 70% w/w concentration. Tightly cap each bottle and label it with the solution name and concentration for clear identification and safety.
Q3: What waste containers are necessary in a chemistry lab?
A properly equipped chemistry lab requires three types of waste containers: one for concentrated acid waste, one for aqueous acid waste, and one for glass waste. These separate containers ensure safe disposal and prevent dangerous chemical reactions between incompatible waste materials.
Q4: What glassware and equipment should be set up at each student lab station?
Each student station requires beakers of various sizes (100-mL, 250-mL, 400-mL, 600-mL), graduated cylinders (10-mL and 50-mL), an Erlenmeyer flask, filter flask, test tube, thermometer, stirring rod, Büchner funnel, and lab stands with clamps. Additional supplies include pipette bulbs, lab tape, markers, and weighing materials for accurate measurements and safe handling.
Q5: How should you organize shared materials and reagents in the lab?
Place commonly used items on a central bench, such as Pasteur pipettes and circular filter papers. Store acid bottles at each fume hood for easy access during experiments. Keep the methyl benzoate in a common hood, and ensure the balance area is stocked with weighing boats, spatulas, and lab wipes for all students.
Q6: Why is a fume hood essential when working with concentrated acids?
Concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids are toxic and corrosive, producing harmful vapors that can damage respiratory tissues. A fume hood contains and removes these vapors, protecting you from inhalation exposure. Always work with corrosive acids inside a fume hood to maintain a safe laboratory environment.
Q7: What adjustments should you make when preparing the lab for different class sizes?
The preparation guidelines provided are for 10 students working in pairs with some excess materials. Adjust quantities proportionally based on your actual class size and number of student groups. Scale up or down the amounts of acids, glassware, and equipment while maintaining the same safety protocols and organization structure.