General Chemistry I – CHM 115

Experiment 1

Scientific measurements

Weighing Paper, Spatula, Beakers, Graduated

Equipment:
Cylinder, Graduated Pipette, Burette, Hot Plate
Stirrer, Magnetic Stirrer, Erlenmeyer Flask and
Washing Bottle.

Chemical materials:
Distilled water and table salt.

Experimental Setup
 Hazards

Equipment:
▪ Glassware (Graduated cylinders, Erlenmeyer flasks, Beakers, Burettes): Cuts from
damaged or broken glass.
▪ Lab ware
- Plastic pipettes: Cuts from forcing pumps into pipettes or from pipettes that break.
- Analytical balance: Electricity hazards; faults which could cause fires, contact with
live parts causing shock and burns.

Chemical Materials:
▪ Table salt: irritant in case of skin contact, eye contact, ingestion or inhalation
Introduction

In Chemistry, as in all the sciences, quantitative measurements are of extreme importance. Student
must use measuring instruments properly to get reliable experimental information.
In this experiment, students will learn how to use several common laboratory instruments and
interpret the data they provide.

Metric Unit System

Scientific measurements are expressed in the units of the metric system or its modern-day successor,
the International System of Units (SI).
The SI is based on seven fundamental units, or base units, each identified with a physical quantity
as shown in the table below. All other units are derived units, combinations of the seven base units.

Quantity Measured
Base SI Unit Symbol
Physical Property

Mass Kilogram Kg
Length Meter M
Temperature Kelvin K
Amount of a substance Mole mol
Electric current Ampere A
Time Second s
Luminous intensity candela cd

All measurements consist of a number and measurement units. For example, you may not say
something is 3.75 long without specifying whether you mean m, cm or mm.
Metric Unit Conversion Staircase

The metric system makes use of prefixes to change the value of the unit in multiples of 10. Conversion
between related units is accomplished by moving the decimal point the appropriate number of places
left or right.
Here are the more commonly used prefixes and what they mean:

Kilo (K) =103=1000

No prefix = 1
Deci (d) = 10-1 = 1/10 (or 0.1)
centi (c) = 10-2 = 1/100 (or 0.01)
milli (m) = 10-3 = 1/1000 (or 0.001)
 Part A: Measuring the Mass of Solids
Mass is the quantity of matter an object contains. The SI unit of mass is Kilogram Kg.
Mass is constant because an object’s quantity of matter cannot change. While Weight is variable
because it depends on the local gravitational field acting on the object. That’s why we measure the
mass not the weight.
The tool used to measure the mass during this course:
Electronic Balance

Experimental Procedure:

To use Electronic Balance:

1. Turn the Balance “ON’’.

Press the zero/tare button.
Make sure that the “g” unit appears on the display.

2. Place the weighing paper on the balance (never put a

chemical directly on the pan).
Press the zero button again to eliminate the mass of
the weighing paper.

3. Weigh X gram of the table salt using the spatula.

4. Record the mass in the report.

5. Remember to wipe up any spills as soon as they happen and to turn off the balance and unplug
at the end of the experiment.
Part B: Measuring liquid volume

There exist many devices to measure volume in a laboratory. In this lab, we will be using a graduated
cylinder and a graduated pipette.

I. Reading a graduated cylinder

Graduated cylinders are marked off in volume units. Larger units are marked (e.g., 10 mL, 20 mL,
50 mL, etc.) while smaller units are only indicated.
Due to capillary attraction, a liquid in a graduated cylinder will not form a flat surface. Instead, it
curves up the sides forming a dip or meniscus. By convention, we always read the volume of the
liquid from the bottom of the meniscus at eye level as shown in the figure below.

Experimental Procedure:

1. Place provided graduated cylinder on the bench and hold it with one hand.
2. Add X mL of tap water as shown on the photo.
3. Read the volume (the meniscus) at eye level (as shown above).

II. Using a Graduated Pipette

A graduated pipette is one of the common laboratory pipettes used mainly in the chemistry lab. There
are three kinds of pipettes: Pasteur Pipettes, Volumetric Pipettes and Micropipettes.
On the graduated pipette, there is a number and a line or mark on the side of each. The number
indicates the number of milliliters the pipette holds or dispenses when the pipette is filled all the way
to the line or the mark.
Experimental Procedure:

In order to practice how to use of pipettes, we will measure volume and mass at the same time (having
in mind that density of water is 1 g/mL, measured mass should be equal to volume). This procedure
will use the technique of weighing by difference. All mass values would require the subtraction of
two separate measurements. For this reason, you will get the best results if all measurements for this
portion of the experiment are performed with the same balance.

1. Add some distilled water to the beaker A so you can use it for practice.

2. Turn the Balance “ON’’.

3. Press the zero button.
4. Make sure that the “g” unit appears on the display.
5. Place dry, empty beaker B on the balance.
6. Measure mass of the beaker and write it in the report (mo).

7. Hold the graduated pipette and carefully place the roller pump at the top of the pipette by
pushing gently and rotating slightly.
 8. With the tip of the pipette submerged in the water, gently rotate
the pump downwards to draw water up into the pipette till the
meniscus is on the desired graduation mark.

9. Make sure the tip of the pipette always remains beneath the surface
of the fluid in order not to draw the bubbles in. Do not allow
the fluid to rise up into the roller pump itself.

10. Transfer X mL (given in the Report) of distilled water from beaker A to

the beaker B placed on balance. To release liquid press release lever
valve.

11. Record the mass of the beaker with water (m1 - this will be the mass of the beaker for your
next step).

12. Calculate mass of water.

13. Repeat steps 10 to 12 until you have 3 recorded measurements at this volume.

Note: In case you are using the same pipette for different solutions, you should rinse the pipette
by following the subsequent steps:

1. Fill the pipette half-way with distilled water.

2. Be sure that the water contacts all sides of the pipette.
3. Discard the water in the waste beaker.
4. Repeat the previous steps twice.
III. Using Burette

Burette, is a volumetric instrument used mainly in a titration experiments (neutralization between

acid and base). It is a long glass tube with volume markings and a stopcock at the bottom to start and
stop liquid flow. The volume markings (also called graduations) on a burette start at zero on top, and
increase going down. A standard size laboratory burette can deliver up to 50 milliliters (mL) of liquid.
The volume markings are precisely positioned at 0.1 mL increments. Liquid in a burette takes a
curved shape called a meniscus.

In reading a burette, take an initial reading then open the stopcock to let some liquid flow into a flask,
and then take a final reading. The difference between those two numbers is the amount of liquid
delivered to the flask.

Experimental procedures:

1. Check all the burette parts, and close the tap or stopcock by
rotating the tap away from you.

2. Place waste container under the

burette.

3. Using funnel, fill in the burette with

distilled water above the zero mark.

4. Open the tap and release water to

set meniscus on zero, then close the
tap.

5. Place an Erlenmeyer flask under the burette.

6. Open the tap and release X mL of water (given

in the report) then close the tap.
 Cleaning up Steps

1. Turn off the balance.

2. Rinse the beaker and the spatula with tap water.
3. Rinse the graduated cylinder with tap water.
4. Remove the pump from the pipette then rinse the pipette with tap water.
5. Close all chemicals stock bottles after use, cover the beaker with table salt.
6. Return all used glassware to the tray placed on the bench.
7. Clean your bench using the alcohol dispenser.
8. Return your chair back.

Waste Disposal Methods

Name Description Where to dispose

Gloves Used for PPE

Tissues Used to clean the bench

Weighing papers Weighing papers used for

mass of solid
Contaminated solid waste trash
bin

Table Salt Discard in the bin

Trash Bin
 Some Chemistry Laboratory Equipment

Beaker Erlenmeyer Flask Graduated Cylinder

Washing Bottle Volumetric flask Test Tube

Thermometer Filter funnel Burette

Pipette Dropper Measuring pipettes +

pumps
 pH meter pH paper Magnetic Stirrer

Electronic Balance Hotplate/Stirrer Spatula