Lab 1 Instructor Notes

Introductory Content: Safety/Introduction

Be sure to cover:

  • The TCC Safety Agreement in implicit detail.
    • Review how to clean glassware.
    • No chemical of any kind can go down the drain.
    • Discuss emergency procedures and what to do in case of an accident.
  • Cover your syllabus including
    • Course Communication
    • Course Policies
      • Attendance
      • Assignments (be detailed here- how will they look, where are your rubrics, how to turn in assignments, do you accept late work, etc.)
      • Due Dates/Course Schedule
      • Inclement Weather policy and what you will do if classes are canceled.
      • Academic Integrity
    • Show students which cart will have the CHM 111 supplies.
    • How the stations are numbered and show that balances and student bins will also be numbered for their station.
    • Make sure everyone signs the safety agreement
    • Introductions

Lab 1: Fun with Dimensional Analysis

Remind Students:

  • Make sure students know goggles MUST be worn.
  • Specify when you want numbers in scientific notation.
  • Which cart is for CHM 111 AND where each group tray goes.

When reviewing the protocol explain:

  • Scales
    • How to carry the scale (locked when carried, unlocked to use).
    • Lift lid to measure mass (this is NOT intuitive for them).
    • How to zero the scale.
    • Wrap cord and put back neatly when leaving.
  • Volume
    • Read the bottom of the meniscus at eye level.
    • Leave all chemicals on benchtop when reading volume.
      • Graduated Cylinder
        • Show how to read (volume should be read to 1 decimal space).
        • Demonstrate delivering water from the DI bottle.
      • Pipettes
        • Show how to read the volume (to 2 decimal spaces).
        • Demonstrate drawing up and delivering water (this is not intuitive as students do not understand the void volume and will usually try to deliver 0.1 mL instead of 1.0 mL. Explain to draw volume up to 0 then deliver the volume desired.
      • Rulers
        • Demonstrate how to read the length.
        • Remind students to take measurements in cm – because cm3 = mL
        • Discuss significant figures (cm should have 2 decimal spaces).
        • When measuring the internal volume of the beaker students will need to measure along the outside edge of the beaker (ruler edges do not begin at 0 so they cannot put the ruler inside the beaker to do this).
      • Waste:
        • The only material disposed of in here is the water- may be dumped down the drain at each group station.
        • Do not throw out pipettes, weigh boats, or paper clips.