ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos

Chemistry: 1.1 Lab Safety 570 Views

Share It!

Description:

Don't even think about stepping foot into a lab until you drink a nice big cup of safe-ty. Safety lesson number one: do not listen to this description and try to drink safety instructions. Just read them. Like a normal person.

Language:

English Language

Subjects:

Science / Chemistry

Transcript

00:03
We know you're eager to get out there and start conquering the world with your...
00:06
your chemistry, but until you've learned a few basic safety precautions, you'll have to...
00:10
just keep your mitts off our beakers, so to speak. Having to learn about...
00:14
and avoid potentially lethal situations can be a real drag. But...
00:18
you may actually thank us once you've made it to the ripe old age of 22...

00:22
with all your limbs and eyeballs still intact. All right, so here's your safety...
00:26
checklist coming at ya. Number one: read and follow directions.
00:30
Directions aren't just there to look pretty. They can alert you to the possible...
00:34
safety hazards, and advise you how to properly handle dangerous...
00:38
chemicals. Here's Stan not reading the directions. Here's Stan...
00:42
combining nitric acid and hydrozine. And here's where Stan's...
00:46
hair used to be. Yeah, let's not be like Stan. Safety item...
00:50
numero dos. Protect those eyeballs. Unless you're a cyborg...
00:54
who can just go into mission headquarters to be fitted for a new pair of peepers,
00:58
those eyes of yours are the only ones you're ever gonna have. There are all...
01:01
kinds of noxious fumes and gases inside a chemistry lab, and if they find...
01:05
their way into your eyeholes, they're gonna cause permanent damage.
01:08
Any time you're working with materials you wouldn't want to go pouring...
01:12
all over your face, strap on a pair of lab goggles. This is Stan not wearing...
01:16
goggles. This is Stan getting a little too close to an alkaline...
01:20
chemical reaction, and this is Stan putting in his contacts.
01:24
Moving on: number three. Don't let your piggies out of their sty.
01:28
These shoes are awesome. For the beach. In a...
01:32
lab full of breakable glass, not so much. Guess who...
01:35
likes to wear flip-flops to chemistry class? Oh yeah, Stan. Good call.
01:39
Here's Stan dropping a flask. Here's Stan's piggy toes being cut...
01:43
into pork sausages. Stan's totally gonna wear sneakers next time...
01:47
if there is a next time. Safety rule number four: this is not...
01:51
time to let your hair done. Save it for your modeling shoot or...
01:55
something. In a chemistry lab, the idea is not to dangle flammable materials...
01:59
over open flames. If you do, then, like Stan, you might lose...
02:03
what's left of your hair. Poor Stan. Class pictures are tomorrow, too.
02:07
Number five: make sure the equipment you're using is in tip-top shape.
02:11
If your Bunsen Burner is out of whack, or your eye-dropper has more...
02:15
holes in it than a slice of swiss cheese, you may want to let your teacher know...
02:19
so you can get some replacement equipment that won't kill you.
02:23
If you notice that something is funky, but forge ahead anyway, well bad...
02:26
things are bound to happen. Just ask Stan. Not that he can really hear you...
02:30
right now. You might want to ask him in writing. Finally, number six: when in the..
02:34
lab, don't put anything in your mouth, ever. We can't stress this...
02:38
enough. We don't care how long it is until lunch, or how delicious you think...
02:42
that blob of melted lithium looks. Wait it out. You're wearing goggles...
02:46
for a reason. This stuff, and your body, do not mix.
02:50
Leave your leftovers for Stan. He'll finish them up for ya. Happy
02:54
picture day there, Stan.
Full Transcript