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Some experiments will require hours of preparation, others may only require a few minutes. Whichever is the case, it is important to prepare ahead of time. Here are some preparation tips that we hope will become habits.
Before the actual lab day ...
Glassware. Most glassware needs to be clean and dry before it can be used. If possible, identify glassware that you will need the following week and, if necessary, wash it before you leave so that it will have a full week to dry in your cabinet. Never leave glassware outside your cabinet.
Reading and writing. As a rule:
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read the background and procedure sections for the experiment in the lab manual
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if necessary, consult other sources that will help guide you through the procedure you are going to perform. These sources might include relevant sections in Padias, online videos of lab procedures, the sAFETY and DISPOSAL sections of the lab manual, and the instructions for performing CALCULATIONS in the lab manual
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download and complete the pre-lab activity sheet and bring it to lab. Generally, there is one activity sheet for each 201 experiment (activity sheets are not used in 202)
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prepare your lab notebook (see the appendix on KEEPING A NOTEBOOK). Remember that you are free to make whatever entries you want on the left-hand pages, so you might use these pages to construct a "to do" list and calculate amounts of needed reagents. Also remember that certain entries (especially information about the physical and hazardous properties of compounds, and their disposal) are required for the right-handpages and must be entered before lab.
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Many experiments require two or more lab periods to complete. To prepare for the following week's work, you need to make sure that your materials are safely stored and labeled, and that your lab notebook contains complete and detailed notes. If you attend to these details before you leave lab, you will be able to pick up your work the following week right where you had left it.
The actual lab day ...
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Pack your "lab clothes" and "lab shoes" before you leave home in the morning. This is especially important on the hot days that often come in September. Shorts and sandals may not be worn in lab. Students who are not dressed properly may be sent home to change. (In some cases, students can borrow lab coats and booties from the Stockroom.)
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Eat a good lunch and maybe toss a small snack in your bag. A full four hour lab can be physically and mentally draining and its usually ok to take a small break somewhere. Note: if you are sick and have any reason to think that your illness is contagious (or if you are incapacitated in some other way), notify your instructor ahead of time and we will try to reschedule your lab for another time.
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Skim through your procedure one more time. What are you going to do and why? What does each apparatus look like?
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Carefully review any notes you have made about lab hazards. Review the SAFETY appendix and Padias p. 1-4 for relevant tips and reminders.
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