Laboratory Schedule

CHEM 143, Fall 2004

Below are the Prelab Videos.  Watch them before you come to lab. You will need Quicktime to view the videos.  If you don't have it, go to the web and download it.
 

Laboratory Safety

General.  The organic laboratory is a safe place in which to work, provided everyone observes reasonable safety precautions.  Hazards have been minimized in the design of experiments, but organic chemistry involves the use of flammable, corrosive, and toxic materials. The key to working safely is to be aware of the hazards before you enter the laboratory.  Careful thought and knowledge of the characteristics of the chemicals you're working are essential to avoid accidents and injuries. Your TA will let you know any specific hazards prior to each experiment.

Protective Clothing.  If you value your clothes, a lab coat is a good investment.  Even if you take good care and work safely, someone else may splash you.  It doesn't have to be concentrated acid - many common solvents will damage synthetic fibers, or discolor fabric dyes.  A lab coat will also protect what's underneath your clothes - you.  Protective gloves are recommended, and they are provided for your use.  Don't regard gloves as anything more than temporary protection. If you spill chemicals on your gloves, discard and replace them as soon as is convenient.   And of course, safety glasses are  compulsory.

Fire.  Your safety is the main concern.  Leave the room and the building.  Only after everyone is safe shold the fire be extinguished.  If a person's clothing catches fire they need immediate help.  Prevent them from running.  Douse them under the safety shower, which works better than a fire blanket.  Under no circumstances should you discharge a fire extinguisher at another person, even if they are on fire.  Pressurized CO₂ or water can cause more damage than the fire.

Chemicals.  Chemical contamination of clothing should be dealt with by immediate dousing using the safety shower.  If chemicals are spilled on skin, wash immediately with large volumes of water.  If chemicals are spilled in the eyes, wash immediately in the eye wash fountain.

Injuries.  All injuries must be treated immediately by competent medical staff at the University infirmary.  Report the injury to your lab instructor.

Pregnancy.  If you are pregnant, or suspect that you might be pregnant, stay out of the laboratory.  We don't have enough information about the chemicals we use to be able to guarantee the safety of your child.  Contact the course instructor to discuss laboratory alternatives.

Laboratory Structure and Grading

The laboratory is a key part of the class.  Grade of F for the laboratory is a fail for the entire class.  Two or more missed laboratory sessions without prior approval of the instructor will automatically result in a grade of F for the laboratory, and hence the class.

There is no formal lab report.  Your laboratory notebook will be graded after each lab.  Write a prelab in your notebook before the lab.  Record your data and observations in your notebook during the lab.  Analyse your data (if necessary) after the lab.  Make a copy of these pages of your notebook and hand them to the instructor at the beginning of the next lab.  Each finished lab should have a prelab and a results/observations section.

Prelab.  Use the information online, and the suggested reading in Ault to write a prelab in your lab notebook.  The lab notebook is the only material allowed in the laboratory, so the prelab should have a complete description of the experiment you're going to do.  It should include all chemicals and solvents, their quantities, and any particular hazards associated with them. 

See Ault, pages 26-29 for a detailed description of how to write the prelab (plan).

Results.  Your data will depend on the particular lab.  You should pay attention to the quality of your data.  If the lab involves quantitative measurement you should estimate errors. If you can repeat the measurement multiple times, calculate a mean and an e.s.d.  If the lab is a chemical transformation, the criteria are yield (as a percentage of the maximum theoretical) and the purity, as judged by an analytical technique (melting point, boiling point, chromatography or spectroscopy).

You should include any relevant observations in this section.  Again, refer to Ault, pages 26-29 for a detailed description of how to record what really happened.

Lab Technique.  Lab technique is assessed according to general neatness, cleanliness, appropriate use of glassware and instrumentation, and appropriate handling of chemicals.  General laboratory attitude and the legibility of your notes will be assessed as part of your lab technique.

Grading.   Prelab 5 points, Results 10 points, Observations 2 points = 17 points for 11 labs = 187 points.  The remaining 13 points for lab technique will be awarded at the end of the course.