General Laboratory Tools Techniques and Methods
Browse through these files to get familiar with equipment, techniques and general
approaches to use in your laboratory work this semester.
This is your ‘toolbox’
‘Toolbox’ content
General techniques- equipment use
Glassware glossary Volume measurement Balances Error analysis Excel for lab work Heating Melting Point pH meters Waste disposal
HOW TO: Determine concentration of
unknown in solution Prepare solutions Mixture separations Identify molecular or ionic
species Identify ions in solution How to measure heat exchange Measure how fast a chemical
reaction proceeds (rates of reactions)
Make buffers and how to use them
General Techniques-Equipment Use
Error AnalysisPROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
Glossary of Common Laboratory Equipment
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Excel use for lab work
Data and ResultsPROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
Heating Equipment
Hot PlatePROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
Bunsen BurnersPROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
pH meters
Using pH Meters PROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
Volumetric glassware
Volumetric Equipment and Techniques PROPERTIES
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HOW TODetermine the concentration of unknown species in a solution?
A. Titration-based on aqueous reactions
Acid-base titrations
Complexometric titrations◦Back titration calculation
TitrationPROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Don't showCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
Using an EDTA solution to titrate standard calcium solutions, an unknown water sample and tap waterPROPERTIES
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B. Spectroscopy-based on light absorption properties
UV-Vis IRMSNMR
Different kinds of spectroscopyPROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
HOW TO prepare solutions?
Preparing solutionsPROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
B. Dilution of available solutionsGoing form a high concentration solution to a low concentration solution• Serial dilution• Parallel dilution
Dilutions PROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
HOW TO: separate the components in a mixture?
Types of Separations
• Solid-Solid• Solid-Liquid• Liquid-Liquid
SeparationsPROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
HOW TO: determine whether a solution is ionic or molecular?
A. Solubility
IN polar and non-polar solvents
B. Melting/Boiling Point
Melting and Boiling Point Determination
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C. Conductivity
Does it conduct electricity?◦Conductivity meter
Conductivity simulation PROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
HOW TO : identify ions in solution?
A. Aqueous chemical reactions
Based on solubility properties
Separating ions from a solution of unknown cationsPROPERTIES
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B. Flame test
What’s the emission spectra?
Flame testPROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
C. Spectroscopy
Based on energy absorption properties
• UV-Vis• IR• MS• NMR
General Introduction to Spectrophotometry Simulations and Data collection PROPERTIES
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How do you determine the rate of chemical reactions?
HOW TO measure the ‘activity’ of a catalyst?
Chemical Kinetics - Reaction Rates PROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide
A. Example: progression of a reaction catalyzed by an enzyme
◦Spectroscopy
◦Reaction rates
◦pH
HOW TO make and why to use Buffer solutions?
• Why do you need buffers?• How do you prepare a buffer solution?• How do you select a buffer?• How does a buffer work?
How to mix buffer components-calculationsPROPERTIES
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HOW TO measure the heat exchange in a chemical reaction?
Calorimetry
• Constant-pressure calorimetry• Constant-volume calorimetry
CalorimeterPROPERTIESAllow user to leave interaction: AnytimeShow ‘Next Slide’ Button: Show upon completionCompletion Button Label: Next Slide