Safety and Sketching

Lab Safety

The Do's and Don't's in the Lab

First post of the year and we shall cover lab safety!

Here are more of the more important rules highlighted:

- Do not enter the lab unless a teacher is present

- Long hair must be tied up, long fringes must be pinned up

- Do NOT wear PE shorts, it is important that you are fully covered

- Wear your goggles at ALL times (even those with specs)

- No eating or drinking in the lab at all times

- Used, mixed chemicals cannot be put back into the original container

- Do not use your hands to pick up broken glass

- Cleanliness is important

- Acid into water, never the reverse

- Do not heat anything in a closed container

Of course, there is more to it, but these are the main few. For more information, refer to the lab safety agreement passed out. That's all so far for lab safety, can't wait to get on to the practical on Friday!

Other than that, we had also done up a few sketches of scientific diagrams. The most important thing about drawing diagrams is that they have to be:

- 2D

- To scale

- In bold lines, no sketchy lines

- Labelling cannot have arrows

Why do you think we need to learn how to draw diagrams?

Personally I feel we learn this so that our drawings can be more easily communicated. As Mr Foo said, "If a scientist cannot communicate his ideas, it is also useless". Therefore, through drawing these diagrams, we have yet another way to express our ideas, and also we can impart these ideas in a clearer manner. So we have to pay attention even if the lesson might seem boring and we are just revising basic skills. However, they are called "basic skills" for a reason!

So, yeah, stay tuned!