LABORATORY ACTIVITY 1: Basic Laboratory Techniques Page
LABORATORY ACTIVITY 1
BASIC LABORATORY TECHNIQUES
● INTRODUCTION
Every laboratory experiment that you will perform requires skill and safety. Many
accidents and failures in experiments account for the lack of knowledge and safety in handling
laboratory equipment, chemicals, and operations. The accuracy and precision of experimental
results depend largely on the proper execution of laboratory operations. Every apparatus and
equipment in the laboratory must be handled with care and extreme precision.
Introduction of Equipment/Glassware
ITEM DESCRIPTION
Test tube A cylindrical tube closed at one end; it is used to
contain small amounts of liquid or solid material
for mixing or heating.
Test tube holder An iron or copper ware used to hold test tubes,
especially when heating.
Test tube rack A wooden device used to transport and rest test
tubes.
Beaker Deep, open mouthed thin cylindrical vessel with
a spout; it is used to contain substances to be
heated or to undergo reaction.
Erlenmeyer flask A conical flask with a broad base; it is used to
hold liquids.
Graduated cylinder Cylindrical tube with a spout and graduation; it
is used to measure liquids.
Volumetric flask Flask fitted with a stopper; it is made to contain
a stated amount of liquids; it is used in the
preparation of solutions.
Funnel An inverted conical apparatus with a tapering
tube at the small end; it is used for pouring
liquids or solids into containers with small
openings; it is used to direct the downward flow
of liquids; it can also support a filtering material
in filtration.
LABORATORY ACTIVITY 1: Basic Laboratory Techniques Page
Evaporating dish A porcelain container used in evaporating
solvents by heating.
Watch glass A shallow glass; it is used to hold solids when
weighing.
Spatula A flat, thin flexible dull-edged metal; it is used
in transferring solid chemicals from a stock
bottle to another container.
Glass rod/stirring rod A stirring device which is also used to aid in the
transfer of liquids without spilling.
Crucible A ceramic or metal container that is used to hold
materials that will be subjected to high or
extreme temperatures.
Crucible tong A tong used to hold crucibles and evaporating
dish.
Bunsen burner The small single nozzle burner used in the
laboratory.
Wire gauze A mesh that is made of metal that is used to
support glass wares or other containers while
heating. It is placed between the burner and the
container.
Tripod An iron ring with (usually) 3 supporting rods
used to support a flat-bottom vessel.
Pipette A lean graduated cylindrical tube used to
measure and transfer liquids.
Aspirator A round bodied instrument used for the suction
of liquids using pipettes.
Dropper An instrument used in transferring small
amounts of liquids; it has its own aspirator.
Mortar A wide mouthed container; it is used to contain
solids that will be crushed or powdered.
Pestle A tool with a round end that is used to pound or
crush solid materials.
● OBJECTIVES
A. To be able to operate different laboratory equipment.
LABORATORY ACTIVITY 1: Basic Laboratory Techniques Page
B. To be able to handle different substances.
● MATERIALS NEEDED
● TO BE PROVIDED BY THE STUDENTS
Distilled water Glass marble
Ruler
● PROVIDED BY THE
LABORATORY o
Glassware/Apparatus
4 Test tubes 1 Test tube rack
1 Test tube brush 1 Test tube holder
2 Erlenmeyer and volumetric flasks (100
2 Beakers (100 mL)
mL)
1 Stirring rod 1 Bunsen burner
1 Tripod 1 Wire gauze
1 Watch glass 1 Pipette
1 Aspirator 1 Dropper
1 Spatula 1 Thermometer
1 Funnel 1 Graduated cylinder
1 Mortar 1 Pestle
2 Evaporating dish 1 Crucible tong
1 Top load balance
1 Triple beam balance
o Reagents
NaCl 1M NaOH
1M FeCl3 1 Whatman filter paper no. 1
● PROCEDURE
Weight and Volume
A. Weighing Solid
1. Using a triple beam balance, weigh the NaCl (with unknown mass) prepared by your
instructor.
2. Repeat the process using the top load balance.
3. Compare the weight obtained from different apparatus.
LABORATORY ACTIVITY 1: Basic Laboratory Techniques Page
B. Volume determination of Liquid
1. Measure the temperature of the distilled water and refer to the density chart below.
Temperature Density Temperature Density
(oC) (mg/mL) (oC) (mg/mL)
15 999.19 26 996.86
16 999.03 27 996.59
17 998.86 28 996.31
18 998.68 29 996.02
19 998.49 30 995.71
20 998.29 31 995.41
21 998.08 32 995.09
22 997.86 33 994.76
23 997.62 34 994.43
24 997.38 35 994.08
25 997.13 36 993.73
2. Place a clean and dry beaker on the top load balance and press the tare button.
3. Measure 50mL of distilled water in the beaker and record the weight.
4. Compute the density (ρ= mass/volume).
5. Repeat steps 2 to 4, replacing the beaker with an Erlenmeyer flask and graduated cylinder.
6. Compare the computed density with the given density. The accuracy of the measuring tool is
measured by how close the value of the computed density is to the given density.
C. Density of Marble
1. Measure 20 mL of water using a graduated cylinder. Set it aside.
2. Weigh the glass marble.
3. Measure the volume by carefully measuring the diameter of the marble to compute the
volume. (Volume= 43 xΠr3)
4. Then compute the density (ρ= mass/volume).
5. Measure the volume differently by placing the marble in the previously measured 20 mL of
water in the graduated cylinder. Measure the final volume. Compute the volume of the marble
(Volume of marble= VolFinal - VolInitial).
6. Then compute the density (ρ= mass/volume). The density of glass marble is approximately
2.2 g/mL.
Handling of Substance
D. Solution and Precipitate
LABORATORY ACTIVITY 1: Basic Laboratory Techniques Page
1. Place 5 mL of NaOH solution into 4 clean and dry test tubes.
2. Add 5 mL of FeCl3 solution into each of the test tubes and observe.
3. After the precipitate has settled, separate the liquid from the precipitate by decantation in test
tubes 1 and 2.
4. Transfer the liquid in test tubes 3 and 4 by filtration.
E. Evaporation and Residue
1. Transfer the liquid obtained from decantation to a clean and dry evaporating dish.
2. Heat the solution until all the solvent has evaporated.
3. Transfer the liquid obtained from filtration to a clean and dry evaporating dish.
4. Heat the solution until all the solvent has evaporated.
5. Compare the residue from the 2 different methods.
● WASTE MANAGEMENT
A. All wastes generated from this experiment should be disposed of in the Inorganic waste container.
NAME: SURNAME GIVENNAME MIDDLE INITIAL SCORE:
Lucas Riezel Joyce D.
SECTION: DATE
BSMET 1-1 PERFORMED:
Aug. 22, 2023
LABORATORY DATE SUBMITTED:
SCHEDULE:
Tuesday & Thursday Sept. 03, 2024
LABORATORY ACTIVITY 1
BASIC LABORATORY TECHNIQUES
● REPORT SHEET
Weight and Volume
A. Weight of Solids
Substance Equipment Weight Remarks
NaCl Triple Beam 3.1g Not as accurate, but acceptable
Balance for approximate measurements
Top Load 1.0018g More precise, suitable for
Balance accurate measurements
B. Volume Determination of Liquid
Measuring Weight of Computed Density Remarks/ Comparison
tool Measured 50 (Show the Solution) with the Given Density:
mL Water _________ g/mL
Beaker 0.94g/mL 47.1 g Close to the given density
ρ= = 0.94g/mL
50 mL of water (1.00 g/mL)
Erlenmeyer 0.936g/mL or 46.8 g Slightly less than the
ρ= =¿ 0.936g/mL or
Flask 0.94g/mL 50 mL given density of water
0.94g/mL
Graduated 1.13g/mL 56.7 g Higher than the given
ρ= = 1.13g/mL
Cylinder 50 mL density of water
C. Density of Glass Marble
Measuring Weight Volume Computed Density Remarks/
tool of (Show the (Show the Solution) Comparison with
Marble Solution) the Given Density:
2.2 g/mL
Ruler 5.1g 4 5.1 g Much lower than the
Volume = xΠ8.5³ = ρ= =
3 2571.14 mL given density
2571.14 1.98 ×10 g/mL
−3
Graduated 5.1g Vol final 22mL – Vol 5.1 g Slightly higher than
ρ= = 2.55g/mL
Cylinder initial 20mL = 2mL 2 mL the given density
Handling of Substances
A. Solution and Precipitate
Mixture Observation
FeCl3 + NaOH Ferric Chloride reacts sodium hydroxide. The color of FeCl is
orange while NaOH is white, once the FeCl and NaOH
combined the color is reddish brown. The reaction first of NaOH
to FeCl is there not mixing, there is something underneath and
something on the top.
Separation Method Observation
Decantation When heating and evaporating the solution that use
decantation, the solution get darker while evaporating
Filtration On the other hand, the solution that use filtration is
lighter when heating and evaporating
B. Evaporation and Residue
QUESTIONS
1. Name all equipment you should use when heating 5 mL of water.
Tripod, bunsen burner, beaker, tong, wire gauze, and thermometer
2. How will you measure a solid with no distinct shape?
To measure the volume with no distinct shape, use the water
displacement method using a graduated cylinder to measure the
water, record this as an initial volume, after that transfer the water
into the beaker, and that's the new volume, and subtract with initial
volume, and is equal to the final volume.
3. What is the dominant flame of a properly adjusted Bunsen
burner? Why?
When the fire is blue, meaning that the gas is burning efficiently with
enough oxygen.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the weight and volume, if weight of solid, the triple beam
balance weight is 3.1 g; this is not accurate but acceptable for approximate
measurements, and for the top load balance weight 1.0018 g, this is more
precise and suitable for accurate measurements. For the volume determination
of liquid, the weight of measured 50 mL of water was weighted in a beaker,
Erlenmeyer flask, and graduated cylinder. The beaker was weighted at 0.94
g/mL, which is close to the given density of water. The Erlenmeyer flask
weighted 0.94 g/mL, which is slightly less than the given density of water.
Lastly, the graduated cylinder weighted 1.13 g/mL, which is higher than the
given amount of water. For the density of glass marble, the weight of glass
marble is 5.1 g, the volume is 2571.14, and for the density, this is much lower
than the given density. The volume of the graduated cylinder is 2 mL, and the
density is 2.55 g/mL, which is slightly higher than the given density.The
handling substances of solution precipitate when FeCl3 + NaOH, combined
with the ferric chloride, react with sodium hydroxide. The colour of FeCl is
orange while NaOH is white; once the FeCl and NaOH are combined, the
colour is reddish brown. The reaction first of NaOH to FeCl is not mixing;
there is something underneath and something on the top. And for the
evaporation and residue, the decantation is when heating and evaporating the
solution that uses decantation; the solution gets darker while evaporating. And
for the filtration, the solution that uses filtration is lighter when heating and
evaporating.
Moreover, the equipment that we need when we heat 5ml of water is a
tripod, bunsen burner, beaker, tong, wire gauze and thermometer. If we can't
measure the volume with no distinct shape we can use a graduated cylinder to
measure the water and transfer into the beaker. The dominant flame of bunsen
burner is color blue, that's the sign that the fire is safe, and less likely to
produce the carbon monoxide.
