Lab Safety Exam

Name________
Period_______
Date________

1.Two safety features found in most laboratories are a safety shower and a safety fountain with two water jets.
What is the main purpose of the safety fountain?
a. to irrigate the nostrils if fumes are inhaled
b. to rinse the mouth if chemicals are ingested
c. to wash the hands if exposed to toxic material
d. to flush the eyes if contaminated with chemicals
2. While working in a laboratory, a student using a burner to heat a chemical in a test tube accidentally
catches their loose clothing on fire. Which of the following pieces of safety equipment is best suited for
handling the situation?
a. eye wash
c. safety shower
b. fire extinguisher
d. fire blanket
3. There are a number of potential hazards to be aware of while working in a laboratory. One such risk is the
possibility of accidentally getting a chemical in your eyes. Chemicals in the eye can cause temporary, and in
some cases permanent, blindness. What should be worn to protect your eyes while performing a laboratory
investigation?
a. heat-resistant gloves
c. lab coat
b. safety goggles
d. rubber gloves
4. Poison is a word used to describe a substance that is harmful or fatal if inhaled or ingested. Because of this,
students should never smell or taste chemicals. What symbol signifies that a chemical is poisonous?
a. a pair of goggles
c. a test tube held by a clamp
b. a skull and cross bones
d. a flame with a slash through it
Directions: Answer the following questions to the best of your ability.
5. While working in a laboratory, the teacher instructs the students to pour three different chemicals into
separate beakers. One student accidentally knocks over a small beaker filled with a blue chemical, spilling the
chemical all over the lab table. What should the student do in this situation?
a. clean the spill with paper towels
c. use absorbent material to dry the spill
b. inform the teacher of the spill
d. place a sign nearby that cautions others
6. During a laboratory investigation, students are instructed to heat a test tube containing a harmless chemical.
While performing the experiment, one student accidentally heats the test tube too rapidly, causing the test tube
to break. Broken glass and the chemical cover the table. Knowing that the chemical is harmless, what should
the student do?
a. pour a base on top to neutralize the spill
c. ask the teacher for further instructions
b. clean the spill using available napkins
d. dilute the spill by pouring water over it
7. While using a hot plate to boil a beaker of water, a student accidentally receives a burn. The burn is only
minor, but the student is experiencing a fair bit of pain. Which piece of safety equipment is best suited for
handling the situation?
a. fire extinguisher
c. safety shower
b. first aid kit
d. fire blanket
8. Students should always be aware of their surrounds while working in a laboratory. If a student is not careful,
there is a good chance that an accident will occur. What should be done with long hair so that it does not come
in to contact with chemicals or flames?
a. long hair should be tied back
c. long hair should be kept under a hat
b. long hair should be cut short
d. long hair should remain loose

9. An acid is a corrosive chemical that has the ability to inflict serious injury on a user. A student working in a
lab accidentally gets an acid on their clothing. The acid is not a very strong one, but the clothing begins to
slowly dissolve. What piece of safety equipment is best suited for handing the situation?
a. fire extinguisher
c. first aid kit
b. eye wash
d. safety shower
10. While working in a laboratory there are three pieces of gear that are commonly worn for protection. This
gear protects its user from burns, spills, and other hazards found within the lab. What are the three pieces of
laboratory gear that should be worn at all times?
a. lab coat, goggles, and apron
c. sandals, lab coat, and gloves
b. apron, gloves, and hat
d. goggles, lab coat, and gloves
11. During a laboratory investigation, students are asked to determine the boiling point of water. To perform this
investigation students must heat water using a burner, and take careful measurements using a thermometer.
While doing this, one group of students accidentally catches their laboratory worksheet on fire. What piece of
safety equipment is best suited for handing this situation?
a. fire blanket
c. fire extinguisher
b. safety shower
d. first aid kit
12. Students are instructed to dye plant cells using an iodine solution prior to observing them under a
microscope. During the procedure, a student finds an unlabeled bottle of an amber-colored solution at a lab
station. What should the student do about the unlabeled bottle of solution?
a. move the bottle to a safe place
c. place the bottle on the supply table
b. inform the teacher of the bottle
d. pour the solution down the drain
13. While working in the lab, a student is unaware of the proper safety procedures to follow while heating a test
tube. While heating the test tube, the student points the tube towards himself. As the liquid within the tube
begins to boil, it bubbles up and splatters onto the student. Fortunately the student was wearing the
appropriate laboratory safety gear, and did not sustain any injuries. What was the student wearing to prevent
chemicals from getting on his clothing?
a. goggles
c. rubber gloves
b. lab coat
d. heat-resistant gloves
14. A student is working with extremely fragile glassware used to distill various liquids. The laboratory
investigation is designed to determine the boiling points of different hydrocarbons. What symbol will the student
see on his lab sheet so that he knows to be careful with the glassware?
a. a pair of rubber gloves
c. a broken test tube
b. a skull and cross bones
d. a small mouse
15. Students working in a lab are instructed to properly dissect a preserved frog. The students begin by
reading their laboratory materials. They note that they will be using a scalpel, a small, extremely sharp blade
used for surgery and anatomical dissections. What safety symbol are the students likely to see in their
laboratory materials?
a. a broken test tube
c. a small plant with three leaves
b. a small mouse
d. a pair of scissors
16. While working in a laboratory, a flask containing a starch solution is accidentally knocked off of the lab
table, and shatters on the floor. The resulting spill is not immediately cleaned up, causing a student to slip and
fall. The student sustains a minor ankle sprain. What should the student do first?
a. the student should inform the teacher
c. the student should file an accident report
b. the student should grab the first aid kit
d. the student should utilize the safety shower
17. While performing a laboratory investigation, students are instructed to mix several different chemicals and
to record the results of each mixture. Two of the mixtures can be poured down the drain, while one of them
must be disposed of in a separate container. What symbol are students likely to see in their laboratory
materials indicating the need to dispose of each mixture in a specific manner?
a. a skull and cross bones
c. a test tube held by a clamp
b. a trashcan
d. a pair of scissors

18. A student is instructed to heat a chemical, and take note of what happens. The student is told that once the
chemical reaches a certain temperature that it will change color. Instead of using a beaker as instructed, the
student decides to use a jar with a lid tightly attached. What is the potential problem that may arise due to
heating a liquid in a closed container?
a. the liquid might not get hot enough
c. the container might break due to expansion
b. the lid might become stuck to the container
d. the liquid might melt through the container
19. Students are instructed to create a simple electrical circuit involving a battery, a light bulb, and several
lengths of wire. Students are asked to piece together their materials so that the light bulb remains lit. What
symbol are students likely to see in their laboratory materials?
a. a test tube held by a clamp
c. a pair of gloves
b. a electrical plug and lightening bolt
d. a skull and cross bones
20. While working in a laboratory students are given a noxious chemical that must be placed under a fume
hood to prevent the chemical vapors from contaminating the air within the lab. Students are told to avoid
inhaling the chemical. What symbol are students likely to see in their laboratory material?
a. a pair of gloves
c. a pair of scissors
b. a trashcan
d. an open jar with wavy lines
21. After reading the directions several times, a student is still unsure of what to do in the laboratory. The
laboratory materials issue several warnings about potential dangers, but does not clearly explain the proper
procedure. What should the student do in this situation?
a. ask a friend for help
c. try to figure it out on their own
b. ask the teacher for help
d. reread the directions
22. Because there are many risks involved with working in a laboratory, what type of shoes are students
required to wear while in the lab?
a. closed-toed shoes
c. sandals
b. high heels
d. slippers
Directions: Answer true or false for each question. If it is true, mark A on your scantron, if it is false, mark B
on your scantron.
23. !

Caution

28. !

Scissors

24. !

Wear a sleeveless shirt

29. !

Electrical shock

25. !

Wear heat resistant gloves

30. !

Safety shower

26. !

Fossilized