Lab Safety Quiz: MCQ Exam!

1. You may eat or drink during a laboratory activity.

After you have washed your hands.

Never.

From laboratory equipment.

At any time.

Eating or drinking during a laboratory activity is generally not allowed for safety reasons. Consuming food or beverages in the lab can lead to contamination of samples, equipment, or chemicals, potentially causing inaccurate results or hazardous reactions. Additionally, ingesting harmful substances accidentally is a risk when eating or drinking in the lab. Therefore, it is best to avoid eating or drinking in the laboratory at all times.

Explanation

Eating or drinking during a laboratory activity is generally not allowed for safety reasons. Consuming food or beverages in the lab can lead to contamination of samples, equipment, or chemicals, potentially causing inaccurate results or hazardous reactions. Additionally, ingesting harmful substances accidentally is a risk when eating or drinking in the lab. Therefore, it is best to avoid eating or drinking in the laboratory at all times.

2. You have read about the hazards of the chemicals you will be using in a particular lab, and found out that they are mild health hazards. You should avoid skin contact and vapor inhalation. In lab you should:

Wear shorts and sandals

Wear long pants, closed toe shoes, and a lab apron

Wear gloves

B and c

A and c

The correct answer is b and c. Wearing long pants, closed toe shoes, and a lab apron is important to protect the skin from any potential chemical splashes or spills. Wearing gloves is also necessary to avoid direct contact with the chemicals and prevent any skin irritation or absorption. Wearing shorts and sandals would leave the skin exposed and increase the risk of injury or chemical exposure. Therefore, options b and c are the most appropriate choices to ensure personal safety in the lab.

Explanation

The correct answer is b and c. Wearing long pants, closed toe shoes, and a lab apron is important to protect the skin from any potential chemical splashes or spills. Wearing gloves is also necessary to avoid direct contact with the chemicals and prevent any skin irritation or absorption. Wearing shorts and sandals would leave the skin exposed and increase the risk of injury or chemical exposure. Therefore, options b and c are the most appropriate choices to ensure personal safety in the lab.

3. What should you do with your waste chemicals from your lab when you are done performing the experiment?

Pour it down the drain

Leave it in the container you have it in

Pour it back into the original container

It is important to deposit waste chemicals in appropriate waste beakers in the front of the room, unless the teacher confirms it is safe to pour them down the drain. This is because certain chemicals can be harmful to the environment or cause damage to plumbing systems if poured down the drain. It is always best to follow proper disposal protocols and seek guidance from a teacher or expert to ensure the safe and responsible handling of waste chemicals.

Explanation

It is important to deposit waste chemicals in appropriate waste beakers in the front of the room, unless the teacher confirms it is safe to pour them down the drain. This is because certain chemicals can be harmful to the environment or cause damage to plumbing systems if poured down the drain. It is always best to follow proper disposal protocols and seek guidance from a teacher or expert to ensure the safe and responsible handling of waste chemicals.

4. Treat all microorganisms as if they were:

Harmful.

Harmless.

Dead.

Antiseptic.

The statement "Treat all microorganisms as if they were harmful" suggests that it is important to approach all microorganisms with caution and take necessary precautions, regardless of whether they are actually harmful or not. This approach ensures that one does not underestimate the potential risks associated with microorganisms and helps in preventing the spread of infections and diseases.

Explanation

The statement "Treat all microorganisms as if they were harmful" suggests that it is important to approach all microorganisms with caution and take necessary precautions, regardless of whether they are actually harmful or not. This approach ensures that one does not underestimate the potential risks associated with microorganisms and helps in preventing the spread of infections and diseases.

5. To enhance laboratory safety, how should students begin a new laboratory activity?

Wait until other students begin and then follow their lead.

Gather supplies immediately and read the directions as needed.

Begin immediately and gather supplies as needed.

Read the laboratory exercise and gather supplies before beginning.

To enhance laboratory safety, students should read the laboratory exercise and gather supplies before beginning a new laboratory activity. This allows students to familiarize themselves with the instructions and safety precautions, ensuring they understand the procedures and potential hazards involved. By gathering supplies beforehand, students can also ensure they have all the necessary materials and equipment, reducing the risk of accidents or delays during the activity. This approach promotes a systematic and cautious approach to laboratory work, prioritizing safety and minimizing the chances of errors or mishaps.

Explanation

To enhance laboratory safety, students should read the laboratory exercise and gather supplies before beginning a new laboratory activity. This allows students to familiarize themselves with the instructions and safety precautions, ensuring they understand the procedures and potential hazards involved. By gathering supplies beforehand, students can also ensure they have all the necessary materials and equipment, reducing the risk of accidents or delays during the activity. This approach promotes a systematic and cautious approach to laboratory work, prioritizing safety and minimizing the chances of errors or mishaps.

6. Which laboratory safety procedure is most important for a student working with bacterial cultures?

Storing nutrient agar in a beaker.

Wearing rubber gloves and a lab coat.

Using warm water to clean glassware.

Recording data neatly in a notebook.

Wearing rubber gloves and a lab coat is the most important laboratory safety procedure for a student working with bacterial cultures because it helps to prevent the student from coming into direct contact with the bacteria, reducing the risk of contamination and potential infection. The lab coat provides a barrier to protect the student's clothing from spills and splashes, while the gloves protect the student's hands from direct contact with the cultures. This safety measure is crucial in preventing accidents and maintaining a sterile environment in the laboratory.

Explanation

Wearing rubber gloves and a lab coat is the most important laboratory safety procedure for a student working with bacterial cultures because it helps to prevent the student from coming into direct contact with the bacteria, reducing the risk of contamination and potential infection. The lab coat provides a barrier to protect the student's clothing from spills and splashes, while the gloves protect the student's hands from direct contact with the cultures. This safety measure is crucial in preventing accidents and maintaining a sterile environment in the laboratory.

7. The student's used correct lab practice when handling samples of pond water. Which practice is NOT an example of correct lab practice?

Wearing disposable gloves.

Discarding samples down the drain

Disinfecting the lab countertop before and after each lab session

Washing hands before and after each lab session

Discarding samples down the drain is not an example of correct lab practice because it can lead to contamination of the water supply or cause harm to the environment. Proper disposal methods should be followed to ensure the safety of both the lab personnel and the surrounding environment.

Explanation

Discarding samples down the drain is not an example of correct lab practice because it can lead to contamination of the water supply or cause harm to the environment. Proper disposal methods should be followed to ensure the safety of both the lab personnel and the surrounding environment.

8. Your hand is accidentally splashed with a few drops of dilute hydrochloric acid. You should

Notify your teacher at once.

Pat your hand dry with a paper towel.

Flush your hand with running water from a faucet.

Both a and c.

When your hand is accidentally splashed with dilute hydrochloric acid, it is important to take immediate action to minimize any potential harm. Notifying your teacher is crucial because they can provide proper guidance and medical assistance if needed. Additionally, flushing your hand with running water from a faucet helps to dilute and wash away the acid, reducing the risk of further damage. Therefore, both options a and c are recommended for ensuring your safety in this situation.

Explanation

When your hand is accidentally splashed with dilute hydrochloric acid, it is important to take immediate action to minimize any potential harm. Notifying your teacher is crucial because they can provide proper guidance and medical assistance if needed. Additionally, flushing your hand with running water from a faucet helps to dilute and wash away the acid, reducing the risk of further damage. Therefore, both options a and c are recommended for ensuring your safety in this situation.

9.

In the picture below, which of the following procedures is unsafe?

The students are looking at each other.

The boy is using tongs to heat the test tube.

The girl has her hair tied back.

All of the above

None of the above

The students looking at each other is the unsafe procedure because it indicates that they are not paying attention to the experiment. This can lead to accidents or mistakes that could compromise their safety. The other procedures mentioned, such as the boy using tongs to heat the test tube and the girl having her hair tied back, are both safe practices that promote safety and prevent potential hazards.

Explanation

The students looking at each other is the unsafe procedure because it indicates that they are not paying attention to the experiment. This can lead to accidents or mistakes that could compromise their safety. The other procedures mentioned, such as the boy using tongs to heat the test tube and the girl having her hair tied back, are both safe practices that promote safety and prevent potential hazards.

10. Your laboratory procedure instructs you to pour six different solutions into separate beakers for use in a chemical test. You should

Pour all of the solutions into beakers and then label the beakers.

Pour one solution at a time, labeling each beaker after pouring the solution into it.

Label all beakers first and then pour the correct solution into each.

Not worry about labeling the beakers because you will remember which beaker contains each solution.

Pouring all of the solutions into beakers and then labeling them may lead to confusion and mix-up of the solutions. Pouring one solution at a time and labeling each beaker after pouring the solution into it ensures that each solution is correctly labeled. Not worrying about labeling the beakers because you will remember which beaker contains each solution is not a reliable method, as it is easy to forget or mix up the solutions. Therefore, the best approach is to label all beakers first and then pour the correct solution into each to ensure accuracy and avoid any confusion.

Explanation

Pouring all of the solutions into beakers and then labeling them may lead to confusion and mix-up of the solutions. Pouring one solution at a time and labeling each beaker after pouring the solution into it ensures that each solution is correctly labeled. Not worrying about labeling the beakers because you will remember which beaker contains each solution is not a reliable method, as it is easy to forget or mix up the solutions. Therefore, the best approach is to label all beakers first and then pour the correct solution into each to ensure accuracy and avoid any confusion.

11. Keiko transfers samples of bacteria from a culture tube to several Petri dishes. Which technique should she use to minimize contamination of the culture?

Setting the Petri dish lid on the lab table.

Holding the culture tube upright when the lid is off.

Disinfecting the lab table before and after the transfer.

Sliding the transfer pipette along the side of the culture tube.

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Explanation

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12.

In the picture below, what are the students doing incorrectly?

Labeling chemicals

Reaching across a flame

Wearing goggles

Both a and b

Both b and c

The students in the picture are doing two things incorrectly. Firstly, they are reaching across a flame, which is dangerous as it can result in burns or accidents. Secondly, they are incorrectly labeling chemicals, which is important for safety and proper identification. Therefore, the correct answer is both a and b.

Explanation

The students in the picture are doing two things incorrectly. Firstly, they are reaching across a flame, which is dangerous as it can result in burns or accidents. Secondly, they are incorrectly labeling chemicals, which is important for safety and proper identification. Therefore, the correct answer is both a and b.

13. Which technique is NOT a proper procedure for a classroom lab activity?

Using a compound microscope, first focusing on the specimen using low power, then switching to a higher power.

Turning on the gas of a Bunsen burner to adjust the gas flow, then striking a match to test it.

Cleaning up liquid that spilled onto the floor immediately.

The technique of turning on the gas of a Bunsen burner to adjust the gas flow, then striking a match to test it is not a proper procedure for a classroom lab activity. This is because it poses a safety risk by potentially igniting the gas without proper control or supervision. It is important to prioritize safety in a lab setting and follow established protocols to prevent accidents or injuries.

Explanation

The technique of turning on the gas of a Bunsen burner to adjust the gas flow, then striking a match to test it is not a proper procedure for a classroom lab activity. This is because it poses a safety risk by potentially igniting the gas without proper control or supervision. It is important to prioritize safety in a lab setting and follow established protocols to prevent accidents or injuries.

14. When Jim used a compound light microscope to study plant cells, he cracked the glass specimen slide. Which microscope technique most likely caused him to crack the slide?

Using coarse focus with the low power lens.

Using coarse focus with the high power lens.

Using the fine focus with the low power lens.

Using the fine focus with the high power lens.

Using coarse focus with the high power lens most likely caused Jim to crack the slide. Coarse focus is used to quickly bring the specimen into approximate focus, and it adjusts the stage and objective lens. High power lens provides a higher magnification and requires more precision. Therefore, using coarse focus with the high power lens may have caused excessive force or pressure on the slide, leading to its cracking.

Explanation

Using coarse focus with the high power lens most likely caused Jim to crack the slide. Coarse focus is used to quickly bring the specimen into approximate focus, and it adjusts the stage and objective lens. High power lens provides a higher magnification and requires more precision. Therefore, using coarse focus with the high power lens may have caused excessive force or pressure on the slide, leading to its cracking.

15. Your notebook accidentally catches fire during an experiment. You should

Ask your partner where the fire extinguisher is.

Douse it with the contents of the nearest beaker that contains a liquid.

Notify your teacher at once.

Both a and c.

In case of a fire accident during an experiment, it is crucial to prioritize safety and inform the teacher immediately. They are trained to handle such situations and can take appropriate action to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Asking your partner about the fire extinguisher might waste valuable time, and attempting to douse the fire with a liquid from a beaker could potentially worsen the situation or cause harm. Therefore, the best course of action is to promptly notify the teacher.

Explanation

In case of a fire accident during an experiment, it is crucial to prioritize safety and inform the teacher immediately. They are trained to handle such situations and can take appropriate action to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Asking your partner about the fire extinguisher might waste valuable time, and attempting to douse the fire with a liquid from a beaker could potentially worsen the situation or cause harm. Therefore, the best course of action is to promptly notify the teacher.