Introduction to Methods and Basic Laboratory Techniques

Name:_______________________________TA Name/Section#_____________________

BEFORE COMING TO CLASS!!!

Read pages 21-43 (ignore page numbers specified on p. 21 as they are incorrect)

Complete the Laboratory Assignment (only the questions listed below) by writing directly on
pages 45 and 46 in your manual. You will turn that page in to your TA's.
Laboratory Techniques: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 14-21,23.
(you only need to specify the technique number, not draw the icon)
True-False questions: 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16, 21, 22.

Type up on a separate piece of paper the ANSWER to the pre-lab question below:
1. The mass of a beaker is 4.886 g. After 5.00 mL of concentrated hydrochloric acid
solution is pipetted into the beaker, the combined mass of the beaker and the
hydrochloric acid sample is 11.229. From the data, what is the measured density of
the hydrochloric acid solution?
Be sure to show your calculations hand-written or typed.

READ the entire protocol to familiarize yourself with what you will be doing!

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EXERCISES

1. Record all data and answer all questions DIRECTLY onto this worksheet AS YOU
DO THIS LAB IN CLASS. All experiments in the future will be completed in your
laboratory notebook
2. Please be sure to write in blue or black ink you do NOT need to retype these answers.
3. Include all units for all measurements.
4. This worksheet will be due at the start of class in ONE WEEK along with the post-
lab questions.
5. Each section, A-D will be done in a rotating schedule. Your TA will first demonstrate
these techniques and then break you into 4 groups to perform this lab. You will have 20-
30 minutes for each rotation. You will likely be doing these sections out of order. If you
finish early, you should work on the post-lab questions.
A. Balance Exercises:

1. What is the sensitivity of the balances in our laboratory? ____________________

2. What is the most number of significant figures that this scale can report in?
_____________

3. Weigh 1 g of NaCl
a. Weight of weigh boat __________________
b. Weight of weigh boat + approximately 1.00 g NaCl __________________
c. Calculate weight of NaCl (subtract b-a) __________________
d. Add the NaCl to a beaker. Save the weigh boat for step e.
e. Reweigh the now EMPTY weigh boat. _________________
f. Calculate the weight of any remaining salt (subtract e-a) _________________
g. What is the difference of what you weighed in at the beginning compared to
what you transferred (subtract c-f) _____________________

4. Density of a solid.
a. Weigh a solid aluminum block. _____________
b. Fill a 50 mL graduated cylinder with approximately 25 mL of deionized water.
c. Read the BOTTOM of the meniscus when you are at eye level when you are
reading the value.__________________
d. Place the aluminum block carefully in the graduated cylinder to avoid
splashing.
e. Read the new volume of water in the graduated cylinder. ________________
f. Determine the volume of the block by subtracting the original value in the
graduated cylinder from the new value. ________________
g. Calculate the density of the block. Remember density is mass of substance
divided by the volume of the substance in grams/mL (d = m/v).
________________________

B. Pipeting exercises:

Reminder: when pipeting, always start by filling the pipet with 1-2 mL of the solution you
are going to pipet, turning the pipet to coat the pipet and then expelling in waste container.
Repeat this protocol 3X in order to ensure that you are dispensing ONLY that liquid and not
left over water from cleaning (which may dilute your sample).
1. Pipet four 5-mL portions of water from a beaker into a 25 mL graduated cylinder
using a BULB and a GRADUATED PIPET. Record the volume of water in the
graduated cylinder._________________

2. Pipet four 5-mL portions of water from a beaker into a 25 mL graduated cylinder
using a PI-PUMP pipette filler and a GRADUATED PIPET. Record the volume of
water in the graduated cylinder._________________
3. Pipet four 5-mL portions of water from a beaker into a 25 mL graduated cylinder
using a BULB and a VOLUMETRIC PIPET. Record the volume of water in the
graduated cylinder._________________
 4. Pipet four 5-mL of water from a beaker into a 25 mL graduated cylinder using a PI-
PUMP pipette filler and a VOLUMETRIC PIPET. Record the volume of water in
the graduated cylinder._________________
5. Comment on how close the recorded volume is to the expected 20 mL delivered.

6. When taking a solution that you need to pipet, we adhere to the 110% rule aliquot
out what you need for the experiment + 10% into a clean beaker. (This includes ALL
amounts required for the experiment, including repeat trials!) You can then take this
back to your bench to measure properly. This way, we do not waste solutions or
block everyone else from getting their solutions by taking the time to carefully pipette
at the hood with the stock reagents. This also keeps you from not having enough, as
you always take slightly more than you need but do NOT return solutions to the
bottle. Calculate how much of a given solution you would take if you needed
a. 5 ml_______________b. 7 mL _____________ c. 10 mL_____________

C. Mixing/stirring/pouring excercises.

1. Fill a large test tube about half full of water. Add a crystal of KMnO4 to the test tube.
Hold the top of the test tube tightly between your thumb and forefinger in your left
hand. Use your right hand to flick the bottom of the test tube vigorously so that all of
the liquid in the mixes well. Continue until the solution is homogenous in color.

2. Fill a large test tube about half full of water. Add a crystal of KMnO4 to the test tube.
Cover the test tube with parafilm (stretch the parafilm over the top of the test tube to
help create a seal) and invert the test tube until the solution is homogenous in color.

3. Add ~10 mL of water to a 25 mL flask. Add a crystal of KMnO4 to the flask.

Carefully swirl the test tube until the solution is homogenous in color.

4. Discard KMnO4 waste into aqueous waste barrel.

5. Read page 29 technique 10. Pour water from one beaker to another using a stirring
rod.

6. Read page 30 technique 11. Add about 3 scoops of sand to a 50 mL beaker. Add
about 25 mL of water to the beaker with the sand. Decant a solution of sand and
water such that you leave the sand behind and transfer the water to a separate beaker.
Use a transfer pipette to help remove the final traces of water.
7. Read bottom of page 42 technique 17b. Test the pH of water using proper
technique.
 8. Wash all glassware using soap and water followed by a thorough rinse in deionized
water.

D. Other important techniques:

1. Read page 38 technique 16a. Read the volume in the three graduated cylinders that
have been set up for you and write their values below. Please pay attention to the
number of certain digits, and guess ONLY the last digit of your answer.
a. ______________ b. ______________ c. ______________

2. Transfer 10 mL of water from a 10 mL graduated cylinder into a 25 mL graduated

cylinder. What is the difference between the two values? Discuss where any
differences may have occurred and the differences in reported significant figures
between the two cylinders.

3. Transfer the water from step 2 into a 100 mL graduated cylinder and note the
differences in both volume and significant figures.

4. Read page 31 technique 11c. Set up gravity filtration with paper, including filter
paper (you do NOT have to tear the corner of the filter paper!). Have your TA check
your set up.
a. Teachers signature____________________________

5. Read page 31-32 technique 11e. Set up vacuum filtration apparatus, including filter
paper. Have your TA check your set up.
a. Teachers signature____________________________

6. Read pages 34-36 technique 13a, b and c. Also read the information regarding
Bunsen Burners on page 55. Perform the experimental procedure outlined on page
56-57 regarding the lighting and adjusting the Bunsen burner.

POST-LAB QUESTIONS

Type these questions on a separate sheet of paper to hand in.

1. Describe briefly the significant differences between a graduated pipet and a

volumetric pipet.
2. If your metal block was not completely submerged in water, will this increase,
decrease or have no effect on the reported density of a solid? Explain your reasoning.
3. What is the dominant color of a nonluminous flame from a Bunsen burner? Is the
temperature of the luminous flame greater or less than that or a nonluminous flame?