What safety precautions should be taken when handling laboratory acids and bases?

What safety precautions should be taken when handling laboratory acids and bases?

Personal protective equipment:

1. Face protection, such as a face shield, is required when working with large volumes of liquid acids and bases.
2. An apron or disposable gown must be worn when working with large volumes of liquid acids and bases.
3. Acid-resistant gloves must be worn when handling acids and bases.

What is the rule for acids in the laboratory?

If you add acid to water, the solution that forms is initially very dilute and the small amount of heat released is not enough to vaporize and spatter the solution. This is a commonly known rule from many high school and university chemistry lab classes that is often summarized as “add the acid last”.

How can you dissolve a solid base in water?

Dilute the base to a 10% concentration (by weight) or less. For concentrated bases, simply dilute them 1:10 with water, or pour the base solution onto ice. Slowly add the neutralization agent while stirring the solution. Monitor pH changes with a pH meter or pH paper.

How can we differentiate the pH levels of acids and bases?

Any compound with a pH value between zero to seven is considered acidic, whereas a pH value between seven to fourteen is a base. An acid is called a proton donor, while a base is called a proton acceptor (Kolb, 1978).

Why is it important to study the different acids and bases?

See all the entries from our Let’s Learn About series Because acids and bases react so easily, they play important roles in chemical reactions. They also play important roles in our lives — and the lives of many organisms. For example, we taste acids as sour and bases as bitter.

What’s the reaction between an acid and a base?

The reaction of an acid with a base is called a neutralization reaction. The products of this reaction are a salt and water.

How do different concentrations of acid affect its ability to be neutralized?

pH is a measure of the concentration of H3O+ ions in a solution. Adding an acid increases the concentration of H3O+ ions in the solution. If an acid is added to a basic solution, the solution becomes less basic and moves toward the middle of the pH scale. This is called neutralizing the base.

How do you handle laboratory bases?

2 Handling Procedures for Bases. Work with bases should be performed in the chemical fume hood. Gloves, lab coat and safety glasses must be worn. If handling strong bases, neoprene or nitrile gloves, a neoprene apron and a face shield with chemical splash goggles should be worn.

What is the most fundamental principle of laboratory safety?

Awareness is the most fundamental principle of laboratory safety: The hypothetical question “What would happen if…?” should always be posed before an experiment or procedure is attempted. Do not conduct the procedure unless you can answer all “ What if ” questions.

What are the safety precautions to be taken when using laboratory equipment?

Never place hot glassware directly onto the lab bench. Never pipet liquids by mouth; use a mechanical or safety pipet bulb. Each student is responsible for cleaning up all spilled chemicals at his/her bench, on the reagent shelves, in the hoods, and in and around the balances. Consult the instructor if uncertain about the method of cleanup.

Which is the authoritative external laboratory safety reference?

In addition to the rules and guidelines presented here, a best practice is to consult “ Prudent Practices in the Laboratory “ as the authoritative external laboratory safety reference. Make sure that all containers are properly labeled.

What are the rules for leaving the laboratory?

Any person or groups of persons engaging in such behavior will be required to leave the laboratory. Vent equipment that may discharge harmful vapors or mists (vacuum pumps, distillation columns) into fume hoods or snorkel hoods.