Introductory Chem/Bio Labs

[PharmBound]

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I hope this isn't too silly a question...I have my first ever labs in intro chem and intro bio next semester. Are there any protocols or anything I should know about in advance? Thanks much...

 

[rxoh]

Dont spill anything, and don't wear nice clothes in chem lab.

 

[marrymenatalie]

I hope this isn't too silly a question...I have my first ever labs in intro chem and intro bio next semester. Are there any protocols or anything I should know about in advance? Thanks much...

I don't know about your school, but my school made every student take 1 unit protocol class before taking any upper division bio lab, and each class usually go over the protocols/rules/regulations in the first lab. Just ask your instructor if you're worried.

Also, don't forget your goggles, gloves, lab coat, and lab notebook because I noticed people tend to forget those things.

 

[ethyl]

If you can afford it, buy an extra lab coat and leave it in your car's trunk. It saved me quite a few times when I left late for lab and forgot my lab coat. You won't be allowed in the lab without it. Hell, I'm in my senior year and that extra coat I bought 4 years ago has still saved me at least twice this semester. ... or maybe I'm just extra forgetful. 😳

 

[steveysmith54]

They will show u safety video.

Please try ur best not to laugh when they show and explain how to put lubricant on rubber stoppers and then instert them into various tubes.

Also a rubber policeman is made out of plastic and not rubber.

 

[patmcd]

They'll explain everything to you. Each school/class has slightly different polices. Just don't wear nice clothes.

 

[karariki]

1) if u want to have A's, pair up w/ a smart partner. if u want to have fun, pair up w/ someone u like spending 3 hours together.
2) if u're clumsy like me, prepare some $$$ to pay broken stuffs at the end of the semester.
3) if u accidentally burn ur partner's hair while adjusting the bunsun burner, offer to pay her new hair cut.
4) if ur chewing gum fall into ur final product vial, yes, it means to u need to redo it.
5) sucking up to TA as much as necessary. they're the ones who grade ur lab reports.
6) and don't ever, ever wear stilettos to lab.

u'll be fine. 😉

 

[twester]

They will show u safety video.

Please try ur best not to laugh when they show and explain how to put lubricant on rubber stoppers and then instert them into various tubes.

Also a rubber policeman is made out of plastic and not rubber.

You mean the one where the guy is pushing the glass tube into the stopper and it impales his hand and blood spurts all over the place? Yeah, laughing at that point got me a dirty look from the professor. But it was funny, because it was such a "duh!" thing that you couldn't help but see coming.

Another thing is to try really hard not to break mercury thermometers. That's practically a hazmat incident at my school.

 

[tcid]

It is a really good idea to read over the lab manual before going to lab. Saves time for you and the TA. I was a TA for gen chem and this was my #1 pet peeve.

 

[PharmDeb]

1) if u want to have A's, pair up w/ a smart partner. if u want to have fun, pair up w/ someone u like spending 3 hours together.
2) if u're clumsy like me, prepare some $$$ to pay broken stuffs at the end of the semester.
3) if u accidentally burn ur partner's hair while adjusting the bunsun burner, offer to pay her new hair cut.
4) if ur chewing gum fall into ur final product vial, yes, it means to u need to redo it.
5) sucking up to TA as much as necessary. they're the ones who grade ur lab reports.
6) and don't ever, ever wear stilettos to lab.

u'll be fine. 😉

Now that's funny!

 

[shaun009]

I was doing a distillation process in my organic chem lab, and my cold water in broke off and I saw a bunch of smoke *thinking water was getting into the outlets* I picked it up off the counter and held it directly in front of the lab group in front of mine. Needless to say the dude was a little pissed, he's books were a complete smear of ink! It turns out that I was heating my round bottom flask with a heat-pad (not a bunson burner, but the electric ones) and that's what caused the smoke. For the rest of the year, people would walk around and say "oh, don't get me mr. super soaker!"

 

[steveysmith54]

You mean the one where the guy is pushing the glass tube into the stopper and it impales his hand and blood spurts all over the place? Yeah, laughing at that point got me a dirty look from the professor. But it was funny, because it was such a "duh!" thing that you couldn't help but see coming.

Another thing is to try really hard not to break mercury thermometers. That's practically a hazmat incident at my school.

I remember that too, the funny part was when they started using lubricant and a couple of people really started to laugh. Some tried to avoid showing it by putting their heads down. One guy just couldn't control himself and left the room.

 

[aya01]

I hope this isn't too silly a question...I have my first ever labs in intro chem and intro bio next semester. Are there any protocols or anything I should know about in advance? Thanks much...

Nah, I wouldn't worry about it. Besides following basic safety rules, just be sure that you read the pre-lab and skim over the protocol before you start your lab so that you have a rough idea of what's going on. Since these are intro classes, everything else should be explained to you once you get to lab.

Oh, and like other people said, definitely don't wear your favorite clothes/nice clothes to lab.

 

[DrBowtie]

You mean the one where the guy is pushing the glass tube into the stopper and it impales his hand and blood spurts all over the place? Yeah, laughing at that point got me a dirty look from the professor. But it was funny, because it was such a "duh!" thing that you couldn't help but see coming.

Another thing is to try really hard not to break mercury thermometers. That's practically a hazmat incident at my school.

The glove obviously bloated with fake blood is classic. I've had to watch it 4 times.

 

[steveysmith54]

Some profs are real anal about wearing gogles, they might even through u out if u don't.

 

[marrymenatalie]

I was doing a distillation process in my organic chem lab, and my cold water in broke off and I saw a bunch of smoke *thinking water was getting into the outlets* I picked it up off the counter and held it directly in front of the lab group in front of mine. Needless to say the dude was a little pissed, he's books were a complete smear of ink! It turns out that I was heating my round bottom flask with a heat-pad (not a bunson burner, but the electric ones) and that's what caused the smoke. For the rest of the year, people would walk around and say "oh, don't get me mr. super soaker!"

LOL I'm sorry, but I can relate. One time my partner took out the water tube (I forgot why) and she was holding right before I turned on the water...well...she was all wet...but luckily wearing a lab coat and she was nice about it...so people, here's another reason to wear your lab coat...hehe

Seriously it was an accident

 

[Sefowa04]

lol I hate those water tubes! In chemistry they often have tubes that are kind of long attached to the spout of the faucets. In my first chem lab, I had turned my water on and I saw the tube moving around kind of crazily so I turned the water pressure down a bit and thought it would be okay. But that tube was out of control, it flipped out of the sink and sprayed water all over the girl right across from me! Lol, it was funny, but I felt so bad.

As far as tips go, just be friendly with your TA and always ask questions if you are unsure.

 

[imperial frog]

My two main problems were getting paired with a leach who didn't know anything and finding a way to stop getting the lab book wet. The first problem was made a little more enjoyable by after noticing that he was copying my every move, I would purposefully set up my experiment wrong so that he would copy it then reset it when he wasn't looking. Much fun ensued. The second problem stayed with me.

 

[imperial frog]

Some profs are real anal about wearing gogles, they might even through u out if u don't.

I was annoyed about this at first, but then my lab partner was trying to funnel some acid and wound up dropping the container and splashed me with it. Eyesight is kinda nice in pharmacy.

 

[futureRXdealer]

You mean the one where the guy is pushing the glass tube into the stopper and it impales his hand and blood spurts all over the place? Yeah, laughing at that point got me a dirty look from the professor. But it was funny, because it was such a "duh!" thing that you couldn't help but see coming.

Another thing is to try really hard not to break mercury thermometers. That's practically a hazmat incident at my school.

What's even worse is after he noticably forces the tube into his hand even after the "blood" came out. My lab teacher dident care if we laughed

 

[racy33]

When in organic lab... try to figure out which is the organic layer and which is the aqueous layer on your own. I have been an o-chem lab TA for two years and I swear I could drop out of school if I had a dollar for everytime I have been asked that question.
Also... in on the bottom... out on the top...

😀

 

[dgroulx]

When in organic lab... try to figure out which is the organic layer and which is the aqueous layer on your own. I have been an o-chem lab TA for two years and I swear I could drop out of school if I had a dollar for everytime I have been asked that question.
Also... in on the bottom... out on the top...

😀

Yeah, so many people asked that question. I always told them to look up the density.