From: "Wilhelm, Monique" <mwilhelm**At_Symbol_Here**UMFLINT.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Basic Laboratory Skills
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2014 22:37:07 +0000
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 1109037139E1524980CF9CBEB247661867F52752**At_Symbol_Here**UMF-EX10EMB2.umflint.edu
In-Reply-To <9F3B003643FC5F42930EFB83E276C860029181E39406**At_Symbol_Here**HNXEXCH.hendrix.local>


Up to this point, we assume that they come in with no skills at all.å Some of the high schools in the area do not offer any type of lab situation for the sciences.å We also do not use triple beam balances.

We are currently reviewing our gen chem lab curricula due to lab renovations along with the new K-12 Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).å The NGSS will supposedly greatly alter what the students will be coming in with.å I will be attendingå the BCCE conference in August in an attempt to learn more.å However, I have come up with the following preliminary list of skills that we will expect them to gain in the first semester chem lab experience:

-Safety: use of fume hoods and other PPE, adding acid to water, wafting, selecting gloves, proper labeling and segregation of chemicals, using SDSs, ERG, Merck Index, and/or Sax‰??s (probably not all of them even in the first full year, but we haven‰??t agreed as to which one to go to first at this point.å Previously, they would teach them MSDSs, but local industry doesn‰??t care about SDSs and want more of the others for lab workers, which makes sense as the MSDSs are written for responders.) to determine chemical hazards and signs of exposure‰?|..
-Making valid observations with sufficient detail
-Using Excel to graph and interpret data
-weighing by difference
-making dilutions/solutions (using volumetrics & pipets)
-Using a buret, properly reading, recognizing blanks as controls
-understanding positive and negative controls
-heating/cooling, 3 types burners (Humboldt, micro, Fisher), hotpplates, using clay triangles and wire screens, using desiccators/coolers
-spec-calibration, theory, controls
-detecting when a rxn occurs, gas form, ppt, heat, color, etc
-detecting when rxn is complete, indicating reactions, electronic detection, chemical detection (color indicator, litmus paper, homogeneity in pdt appearance, etc)
-indirect measurements, back titrations, broccoli rxn that measures color of a pdt to indicate how much reactant was present
-calibration and controls/stdså for common equipment such as pH meters
-when to use common pieces of equipment such as flasks vs beakers, pipets vs graduated cylinders, recognizing critical steps vs approximations, etc.

Like I said‰?|a preliminary list that may or may not be the final.å So, I also am interested in knowing what others think students in gen chem labs should learn.

Thanks,

Monique Wilhelm
Laboratory Supervisor/Adjunct Lecturer/Chem Club Co-Advisor
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, MI 48502

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Bradley, Shelly
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 5:07 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Basic Laboratory Skills

Wow, we don‰??t even own triple beam balances and don‰??t use Bunsen burners at all.

Shelly Bradley
NRCC-CHO
Authorized OSHA Trainer
Instrumentation Specialist
Laboratory Development Assistant
Campus Chemical Compliance Director
Department of Chemistry
Hendrix College
Conway, AR 72032
Ph:å å å å å (501) 450-3812
Fax:å å å å (501) 450-3829
bradley**At_Symbol_Here**hendrix.edu

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Frankie Wood-Black
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 3:42 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Basic Laboratory Skills

OK - I am working on a few different things all of which require a listing of basic laboratory skills for general chemistry - i.e. those things they should have learned in high school science.å There is no definitive list out there - and in fact - I am not finding a good one at all.
Here is my list:
- measuring to the proper significant figures
- Using a triple beam balance
- Transferring liquids
- mixing liquids and solids
- Heating materials
- smelling a liquid
- Pipeting
- titration
- writing a laboratory report
- using a bunsen burner
What others should be on the list?


--
Frankie Wood-Black, Ph.D., REM, MBA
Principal - Sophic Pursuits
6855 Lake Road
Ponca City, OK 74604
fwblack**At_Symbol_Here**cableone.net
580-761-3703

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.