PRE-LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT NO. 1 BASIC LABORATORY OPERATIONS

Name:
Course and Section:
Group No.:
Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Name of Instructor: Score

I. SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM. Create a schematic diagram based on the

procedure. You can use extra sheets if needed.
II. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. Identify safety precautions you may encounter
based on the procedure.
 EXPERIMENT NO. 1 BASIC LABORATORY OPERATIONS

Chemistry for Engineering Technology is divided into lecture and laboratory

sessions. The theories and principles discussed in the lecture are verified and tested
in the laboratory.
Students must know how to properly handle reagents, apparatus, and equipment to
perform the basic laboratory operations and procedures of the experiment.
Laboratory safety and best practices must also be observed to avoid chaos inside
the laboratory rooms.

OBJECTIVES
1. To teach proper handling of different laboratory apparatus.
2. To demonstrate techniques in handling laboratory operations.
3. To appreciate the importance of learning different laboratory techniques
and skills.

MATERIALS AND APPARATUS

 Porcelain spatula  Evaporating dish
 Beaker  Volumetric flask
 Graduated cylinder  Pipette
 Glass rod  Aspirator
 Bunsen Burner  Funnel
 Alcohol Burner  Top loading Balance
 Lighter with long extended  Test tube
nozzle  Test tube holder

REAGENTS

 Sodium Chloride (Salt)

 Acetic Acid
 Water

PROCEDURE
I. TRANSFERRING OF REAGENTS

A. SOLID
1. Open the reagent bottle.
2. Place the bottle’s stopper on the table in an upside-down direction.
3. Using a spatula, scoop a spoonful of salt out of the reagent bottle and
place it on an evaporating dish without spilling any crystals.
B. LIQUIDS

1. Fill the Erlenmeyer flask with 200 ml water.

2. Allow the water to pass through the sides of the glass rod without spilling
to transfer this volume of water to another Erlenmeyer flask.
3. Repeat Procedures 1 and 2, this time using an aspirator and pipette.
Carefully press the aspirator, place its tip in the upper mouth of the
pipette, and slowly release the pressure on the aspirator until the pipette
can aspirate 10 mL of water.
4. Immediately substitute your thumb for the aspirator on the mouth of the
pipette.
5. Hold carefully the pipette without spilling the water and pouring it into the
Erlenmeyer flask.
6. Continue the process until all the water is transferred into the
Erlenmeyer flask.
7. Repeat Procedures 1 and 2 using a funnel. Hold the funnel in your one
hand and directly slowly pour the water in the Erlenmeyer flask into
another Erlenmeyer flask without spilling.

II. PREPARATION OF SOLUTION

A. 250 mL of 0.1 M Sodium Chloride Solution

1. Weigh 1.46 g of salt using a top loading balance.

2. Transfer the 1.46 g salt to the beaker.
3. Dissolve it in 100 ml with continuous stirring until the salt will no longer
be visible.
4. Transfer this solution into the 250-mL volumetric flask.
5. Wash with a small amount of water the beaker used in dissolving salt
solution for 3 times and transfer to the volumetric flask.
6. Fill the volumetric flask with water up to 250ml mark.
7. Hold the stop cock of the volumetric flask between the pointing finger
and middle finger. Be sure it is properly covered.
8. Turn the volumetric upward and downward for 5 minutes.

B. 250 ml of 0.1 M Acetic Acid Solution

1. Measure 100 ml water into a beaker.

2. Pipette 1.4 ml of 17.4 M acetic acid.
3. Get a glass rod and pour it little by little on the sides of the glass rod to
avoid splattering of the acid. Never dilute water to acid but ACID TO
WATER.
4. Repeat Procedure 4 to 7 of the above procedure to prepare 250 ml of
0.1 M Salt Solution.

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I. HEATING MATERIALS

A. BUNSEN BURNER

Figure 1. Parts of a Bunsen Burner

a. Precautions in Operating a Bunsen Burner

1. Be familiar with the location of the laboratory's main gas shut-off valve
and fire extinguisher.
2. Remove all papers, notebooks, combustible materials, and excess
chemicals from the area.
3. Tie back any long hair, dangling jewelry, or loose clothing.
4. Use the correct tubing (butyl rubber hose). Inspect the hose for cracks,
holes, pinch points, or any defect and replace if necessary. Ensure
that the hose fits securely on the gas valve and the burner.
5. Inform others in the lab that the burner will be in use.
6. Do not sit in front of the fire and keep on standing when performing
heating operations.

b. Bunsen Burner Operation

1. Disassemble the Bunsen burner.

2. Familiarize yourself with the different parts and their functions.
3. Assemble the Bunsen burner into its original feature.
4. Attach the Bunsen burner to the gas cock with the rubber tubing.
5. Close the gas inlet fully.
6. Open the lighter with an extended nozzle to ignite the top of the barrel
of the Bunsen burner. Note: Never use matches.
7. As the flame is produced, adjust the flame’s intensity by turning the
collar to regulate the flow of air.

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B. ALCOHOL BURNER

Figure 2. Parts of an Alcohol Burner

a. Precautions in Using Alcohol Burner

1. Use a ceramic pad or non-combustible surface before lighting the

burner. The burner tank may get very hot during the process.
2. Allow the burner to cool for at least five minutes after filling so that the
alcohol vapors can move up into the copper torch.
3. Light the lighter with an extended nozzle. Never use matches.
4. Allow the flame to burn for approximately one minute before using it in
the experiment.
5. Always check if the top of the burner is completely closed against the
tank by turning the filled burner on its side and rotating it so the liquid is
in contact with the seal. If alcohol leaks out of the unit, the seal is
insufficient.

b. Alcohol Burner Operation

1. Familiarize yourself with the different parts of the alcohol burner.

2. Open the shield/cover of the burner.
3. Remove the porcelain stopper with a copper torch.
4. Check the length of the wick on the tip of the copper torch to see if it is
appropriate for the heating process.
5. Likewise, check if the wick reaches the bottom of the glass tank.
6. Pour approximately 2/3 full alcohol into the glass tank.
7. Return the porcelain stopper with a copper torch.
8. Wet the wick with the alcohol up to the tip of the copper torch.
9. Open the lighter with an extended nozzle to ignite the wick of the burner.
Never use matches.

C. HEATING TEST TUBE

1. Fill the test tube with 10ml water.

2. Hold the test tube with the test tube holder.
3. Light the burner and heat the water in the test tube by positioning it at
45 angle to the flame.
4. Move the test tube in a slanted upward and downward movement.
Avoid pointing the mouth of the test tube towards anybody.
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 EXPERIMENT NO. 1 BASIC LABORATORY OPERATIONS
LABORATORY SHEET
Name:
Course and Section:
Group No.:
Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Name of Instructor: Score

QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions.

1. Why do we place the reagent’s stopper on the table in an

upside-down direction?

2. Why is it necessary to let the reagent flow on the sides of the

glass rod in transferring the reagents?

3. Why should we not press the aspirator directly in the mouth of the
pipette?

4. In preparing an acid solution, why should an acid be poured

into water and not the other way around?

5. Why is a lighter with a long nozzle used to light the

flame instead of matches?
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