Question

each of the following situations could happen in a science classroom.
describe the unsafe practices and explain what should be done.

1. you mix two chemicals and notice that a bright yellow gas is produced. you were told to make some observations, so you hold the beaker up close to your face so you can see the gas and smell the fumes.

unsafe practice:
correct thing to do:

1. your partner’s shirt catches on fire while using the bunsen burner. you tell your partner to stay still while you run to get a cup of water from the sink to put out the fire.

unsafe practice:
correct thing to do:

1. after finishing a lab, you have some chemicals left over. you do not want to waste them, so you carefully pour them back into the container you got them from.

unsafe practice:
correct thing to do:

1. you accidentally spill some water on the classroom floor. you leave it because it is only water and it will quickly evaporate.

unsafe practice:
correct thing to do:

1. you were talking with your partner and did not hear the teacher’s instructions on how to do the lab. you figure that it will be okay if you and your partner copy what everybody else is doing.

unsafe practice:
correct thing to do:

1. you need to use some copper (ii) sulfate, which is a blue liquid. you go to the shelf and find a flask with blue liquid in it and use that. there is no label on the flask, but it is the only one with a blue liquid in it.

unsafe practice:
correct thing to do:

Explanation:

Question 2

Unsafe practice: Trying to put out a fire from a Bunsen burner - caused shirt fire with water. Water can spread fire or cause burns from steam. Also, leaving the partner alone while running for water is unsafe as the fire can spread or the partner can panic.
Correct thing to do: Immediately use a fire blanket to smother the fire. If a fire blanket is not available, the partner should stop, drop, and roll to extinguish the fire. Do not use water on a fire involving clothing or flammable liquids in a lab setting.

Unsafe practice: Pouring leftover chemicals back into their original container. This can contaminate the original chemical with whatever was mixed with it or any impurities from the beaker, leading to unwanted reactions or inaccurate results in future experiments.
Correct thing to do: Dispose of the leftover chemicals according to the lab's waste disposal procedures. Usually, this involves pouring them into a designated chemical waste container, not back into the original reagent bottle.

Unsafe practice: Leaving spilled water on the classroom floor. Even though it's water, it can make the floor slippery, leading to someone slipping and falling, which is a safety hazard.
Correct thing to do: Clean up the spilled water immediately using a mop, paper towels, or a cloth to dry the area and prevent accidents.

Answer:

Unsafe practice: Telling the partner to stay still and running to get a cup of water to put out the fire.
Correct thing to do: Use a fire blanket to smother the fire or tell the partner to stop, drop, and roll.

Question 3