UNIT 6: TECHNIQUE OF STORING

UNIT 6: TECHNIQUE OF STORING CHEMICAL REAGENT AND

APPARATUS
Concept mapping

Organic
Metal
Rubber
Glasswar
Plastic
Paper
Apparatus
Chemical
Electrical
Technique
In
High
ware of
vacuum
organic
parts
estoring
and
waxes

6.1 Objective

6.1.1 To know how to keep chemical and apparatus in the safe ways

6.1.2 To know the important of technique of storing

6.1.3 To understanding the right procedure to keep the chemical reagent

6.2 Introduction

All the main services including gas, water and electricity should be available. At least one

large sink should be provided. A good storage will make the apparatus can be used in a long

period. To store the prepared bulk solutions, a number of apparatus and a good handling of

chemical reagent may safe the money.

6.3 Storing the chemical reagent

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6.3.1 Alcohol

Alcohol may be purchased duty free by teaching, research, and

experimental establishments, by permission of the Ministry of Education. The

type of alcohol issue under licence are ethyl alcohol and industrial methylated

spirits. Ethyl alcohol is defined by customs as ‘pure spirits for use in art or

manufacture where Industrial methylated spirits are unsuitable’. Applications to

receive duty-free alcohol are made by the institution concerned on the appropriate

form. The purpose for which it is to be used must be stated and other details

given. These include the address of the premises on which alcohol will be stored

and estimated annual requirement.

Requisition books are issued to the approved establishment, and when

alcohol is ordered a requisition covering the amount should accompany the order

sent to the supplier. When the alcohol is received it is accompanied by an official

permit which must be send or handed to a local Excise Officer. In the case of

ethyl alcohol the package should not be opened. A stock book must be kept where

the spirits are stored, and in it must be recorded all receipt and issues. The book

should be available at any time for inspection by the Excise Officer, who may

also take account of the amount of spirit in stock. A return of all alcohol used

must be made annually on the official form.

6.3.2 Poisons

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Certain items in the chemicals suppliers catalogue are marked to define

the schedule of rule, which they are controlled. Substances included in the first

schedule of the rules can only be supplied against an order signed by purchaser

stating his name and address in full, trade, business or profession, and the purpose

for which the article is required. Substances controlled by the Dangerous Drugs

Act are also marked and these may only be supplied to a person holding a license

or who is otherwise authorized to purchase dangerous drugs.

6.4 Preservation and storage of materials

The simple methods of preservation and storage of apparatus, as given in the following

notes, may apply to the dispensing store as well as to the main store.

6.4.1 Chemical

Mention has been made of the necessity for the segregation of chemicals which

may be dangerous when stored together. Other chemicals tend to deteriorate with the age

or because of their hygroscopic qualities and for the other reasons. A constant check at

regular invertals on the condition of stock is, therefore, necessary. The old stock should

be used up before the new, and a methodical turnover should be effected. The easiest way

to do this is to stamp the date on each bottle as it is received and to place the new stock at

the back of the shelves.

In teaching establishments it is also advisable to label dangerous chemicals, such

as some chlorates, in a distinctive way when they are received so that they do not find

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their way into the laboratories without control. Periodically bottles should be inspected

for drooping or faded label and these should be replaced.

6.4.2 Glasses of chemical

The chemicals may be grouped into two main categories: inorganic and organic.

If space permits further subdivision into grade of purity such as A.R, M.A.R, and O.A.S

grades is desirable as this permit greater speed, efficiency, and accuracy when issue are

made. In school laboratories the quantity of A.R grade chemicals is usually limited and

provision for separate storage may be somewhat easier. If the various grades are kept

together in a common store the practice of separating A.R grade from other lesser purity

will not only prevent accidental contamination but will also ensure that costly chemicals

are not used for exercises where chemicals of lower purity are suitable. Within their

particular classes the bottles must be grouped in such a way that they may quickly located

for issue and it is easier to do this for inorganic chemicals than for organic one.

i. Inorganic chemicals

These should be arranged under the name of the metal. The shelves should

be labeled accordingly. Double compounds such as ammonium nickel

sulphate or ferrous ammonium sulphate tend to create some confusion but

this can be overcome if the normal method of labeling, as adopted by the

usual suppliers of chemicals to the store, is followed, and the chemicals

are placed on the sheleves accordingly. In any case such matters are put

right by the adoption of the procedure to the lab assistance and by the

cross reference and location marks on his index card. The prefix to the

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name of chemicals, such as di-, tri-, ortho-, and meta-, are ignored for

storage purposes and such chemicals are stored in the usual way under

name of metal. Tri-ammonium ortho-phosphate, for example, would be

stored with the ammonium compounds. Ferrous and ferric, cuprous and

cupric salts are stored under iron and copper respectively.

ii. Organic chemicals.

Organic substances present much more difficulty. The storage of these

chemicals in classes such as alcohols, ethers, and acids may be convenient

for the selection of substances for certain for certain class exercises, but

the system is not convenient for storage purposes. Organic chemicals

should be kept in alphabetical order. In employing this system the prefixes

such as o-, m-, and p-, are disgraded. This is also generally done in

supplier catalogue so that if the the normal system of the chemical supplier

is adopted it simplifies the stores arrangement. This is also helpful when

chemicals are being reordered and the suppliers catalogue may be easily

related to the items stock held. The stock card are marked with the lettered

A to Z and with a letter which corresponds to that on the shelf underwhich

the substance is located.

A further complication may arise with substances such as sodium

benzoate. These may be kept with the inorganic or organic group,

whichever suits the lab assistance best, provided they are all treated in the

same way. Dangerous poisons should be kept in a strong unglazed

cupboard under lock. The key should be held by the storeman and the

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poisons issued on signature only. The complete signature of the recipient,

who should be a responsible person, must be recorded in a poisons book

kept soley for this purpose.

6.4.3 Apparatus

The numerous small items kept in the store necessitate an orderly system. One

system employed is to give each stack an identifying letter and each row of bins within

the stack a number. If necessary, each bin may also be given a letter so that B.I.B would

indicate that the goods were in stack B, top row, second bin. Other similar systems may

be used for locating stock in glass racks, and in this case, pigeon holes in the racks would

be numbered or lettered appropriately. The stock card in the alphabetical index is given a

similar marking to enable the article to be found. The various methods of storing all the

articles of equipment is beyond the scope of various compositions may be helpful.

i. Glassware

The size of glass apparatus stored should be standardized as far as

possible. These item need careful storage and several standart rule apply.

They should not be placed in place too high or mixed with heavy

apparatus or metal articles. Tall glass apparatus should be stored at back of

the shelves and smaller pieces in the front. Special pieces of glassware, for

example Kipps apparatus, are stored as far as possible in their original

packing and paper containers, such as are supplied on Emil glassware,

should not be removed. This is particularly important if the glass is

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stacked in bins. Case a lots of glassware kept in main store may be retain

in the original boxes lining of drawers for the storage of glassware and

devices to prevent materials toppling off shelves, do much to save on

glassware expenses.

Glassware is stored according to its type and size. All flasks, for

instance, should be stored in neighboring bins but separated according to

size. Flat-bottom vessel may stand upright but round-bottom vessels

should be stored in a bin with high front. Small glassware, such as clock

glasses, specimen tube, Petri dishes, and microscopic slides, are best kept

in shelf trays. Burettes require a long padded drawer. The glass taps in

separating funnels should be preventing by sticking with other funnels by

;’/

means with a fragment tissue placed between the tap and the barrel

and the greasing. The tap should be secured by rubber band or they may

fall out and become mixed. Cloak glasses, if stacked, need a piece of paper

between the interfaces. All expensive glassware, such as special pieces

with ground glass joints, should be separately packed in soft wadding or

similar materials. Thermometer should be kept in their cardboard cases

and stored according their type and range. When glassware return to the

dispensing store it should not accepted unless clean and dry.

ii. Rubber

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Many recommendations have been made for the storage of rubber

such as the inflation of black rubber tubing and croking of the ends,

dusting with talc, and so on. This particular commodity, however, leaves

the stores at such a rate that the preserving treatment given it by the

manufacturer is usually sufficient to keep it for the limited periods

involved. When space is available, it is advisable to hang rubber tubing in

coils on a pegboard and to separate the coils accordating to type and size;

alternatively, it may be stored in bins. A manufacturer’s sample chart

should be kept for reordering purposes and type of rubber tubing they

require.

iii. Plastics

Plastics apparatus should be stored away from heat sources. If it is brittle,

for example Bakelite, it should not be stored with heavy apparatus

iv. Paper

The general rule for storage of paper are that it should be kept in dry, clean

and away from fumes. Filter paper should be according to its grade and

size and kept in sealed boxes. If opened, the boxes should always be

closed again after used. The expensive grades of paper should be carefully

issued to the student ant to the others who may not appreciate the cost of

special-quality filter paper.

v. Metalware

All items made from metal should be placed together. Those kept in

dispensing stores, and which may been in use in the laboratory, should be

repainted occasionally. Clamps, bossheads and the collars of Bunsen

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burners need oiling periodically. The individual pieces which comprise a

set of water bath rings should be wired together when being stored, as

should cork borer sets.

vi. Electrical parts

Electrical equipment and component should be stored as a group, away

from fumes and chemicals. Valves and other delicate items should be

wrapped in cotton wool.

vii. High vacuum greases and waxes

High-vacuum greases and waxes should be store at an even temperature in

a cool place. Because of the large variety used today for high-vacuum

work, the lab assistance should have intimate knowledge of them and be in

a position to give advice when necessary on the properties of the materials

in his care.

Question

1. Which of the following should be cleared labeled?

A. rack and shelves

B. specimen

C. dangerous chemical

D. distilled water

2. Dangerous chemical should be stored under___________.

A. cabinet

B. shelves

C. under lab table

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D. special cupboard

3. Generally, chemicals may be grouped under two main categories which are_______.

A. organic and inorganic

B. poisonous and not poisonous

C. flammable and not flammable

D. acid and alkali

4. All of the following are the prefixes to the names of chemicals except?

A. di- C. ortho-

B. tri- D. Alfa-

5. Glassware is stored according to ____________.

1. date of buying

2. size

3. price

4. material

6. Which of the following is the best place where the small glassware should be kept? a) A)

A. cupboard C. Shelf trays

B. special cupboard D. Cabinet

7. The tubing is normally delivered in _______m length.

A. 1.5 B. 1.6 C. 1.7 D. 1.8

8. All of the following are the metal wares except?

A. tripod stand

B. Bunsen burner

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8. The numerous small items found in the laboratory are usually kept in ___________.

a) shelves b) cupboard c) drawers d) cabinet

9. Which of the following is the electrical equipment?

a) transistor b) lenses c) beaker d) conical flask

6.9 Answers

1.c 2.d 3.a 4.d 5.b 6.c 7.a 8.d 9.c 10.a

References

Amritage, Philip and Fasemore, Johnson. (1977). Laboratory Safety: A Science Teacher’s

Source Book, Heinamann Education Books, London.

Chisman, Dennis (1987) Preliminary Issues, Practical Secondary Education: Planning for

Cost- Effectiveness in less Developed Countries, Commonwealth Secreteriat, London.

Fahkru’l-Razi Ahmadun, Chuah Teong Guan and Mohd Halim Shah. 2005. Safety:

Principles & Practices in the Laboratory, Penerbit Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang.

Hegarty-Hazel, Elizabeth (1990), The Student Laboratory and the Science Curriculum: An

Overview, The Student Laboratory and the Science Curriculum, pt.1, pg.3.

McGrath, Dennis M. (1978), Some General Considerations, Laboratory Management and

Techniques For School and Colleges, Anthonian, Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh-Singapore.

Woolnough, Brian E. (1991). Setting the scene, Practical Science, pt.1, pg.6. Woolnough,

Brian E. (1991). Setting the scene, Practical Science, pt.1, pg. 13.

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Woolnough, Brian E. (1991). Setting the scene, Practical Science, pt.1, pg. 14.

K. Guy. Laboratory organization and administration. London Butterworths

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