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Quizzes > Science > Chemistry

Laboratory Safety Quiz: Can You Ace It?

If a lab experiment is not completed, you should know the next steps: test your skills now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for a Laboratory Safety Quiz on a coral background

This laboratory safety quiz helps you practice key rules and spot gaps before you step into the lab. Work through quick, real‑world questions on glassware checks, PPE, spills, labeling, and waste, then keep going with our extra practice set or try the chemistry version to build safer habits.

What personal protective equipment is required to protect your eyes from chemical splashes in the lab?
Safety goggles
Contact lenses
Sunglasses
Welding mask
Safety goggles provide a tight seal around the eyes and protect against splashes and flying debris. Contact lenses do not offer protective barriers. Sunglasses block light but not chemical sprays. A welding mask is designed for high-temperature metal work, not chemical safety.
How should you dispose of broken glassware in a chemistry laboratory?
Chemical waste drum
Biohazard bag
Designated glass disposal container
Regular trash can
Broken glassware must be placed in a designated sharps or glass disposal container to prevent injury to custodial and laboratory staff. Regular trash bags lack the rigidity needed for safe handling. Biohazard bags are for infectious waste. Chemical waste drums are for liquid or solid chemicals, not broken glass.
Before beginning any laboratory experiment, what is the first safety step you should take?
Label all reagents
Read the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Notify your supervisor
Calibrate all instruments
Reviewing the MSDS (or SDS) provides critical information on chemical hazards, handling procedures, and emergency measures. Calibration and labeling are important but secondary to understanding hazards. Notifying a supervisor may be required but cannot replace knowledge of risks.
What is the correct method for smelling volatile chemicals safely?
Sniff directly from the container
Waft vapors toward your nose
Suck air in quickly over the sample
Place your face directly over the opening
Wafting directs a small amount of vapor toward your nose, minimizing exposure. Directly sniffing can cause high concentration inhalation and potential harm. Approaching the opening increases spill and inhalation risks. This technique is recommended in basic lab safety training.
Which sequence correctly describes the disposal of non-hazardous chemical waste?
Pour down sink, rinse, label
Combine all wastes, neutralize, discard in regular trash
Evaporate solvent, keep residue, file paperwork
Label waste container, segregate by type, complete waste log, store for pickup
Proper disposal begins with labeling and segregating waste by chemical compatibility, then documenting it in a waste log before storing it for scheduled pickup. Sink disposal and trashing without review can lead to environmental and safety violations.
If a corrosive chemical spills on your skin, what is the recommended immediate action?
Wipe it off with a paper towel
Neutralize with base immediately
Cover with a bandage and continue work
Rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and notify supervisor
Flushing the affected area with water for at least 15 minutes dilutes and removes the chemical, reducing tissue damage. After rinsing, alerting a supervisor or medical personnel ensures proper follow-up care. Neutralizing on skin can generate heat and worsen burns.
Which type of fire extinguisher is appropriate for a fire involving combustible paper and wood in the lab?
Class B
Class C
Class D
Class A
Class A extinguishers are designed for ordinary combustible materials like wood, paper, and cloth. Class B is for flammable liquids, C for electrical fires, and D for combustible metals. Using the wrong extinguisher can be ineffective or dangerous.
What is the primary function of a chemical fume hood in a laboratory?
Increase reaction temperature
Vent harmful vapors away from the user
Provide a sterile environment
Store flammable solvents
A fume hood captures and exhausts chemical vapors, gases, and dusts away from the user's breathing zone, reducing inhalation risks. It is not meant for storage or heating beyond minor, safe procedures. It also does not maintain sterility like a biosafety cabinet.
Why is grounding electrical equipment important in a laboratory setting?
To speed up electronic signals
To reduce static and prevent electric shock
To conserve energy
To improve measurement accuracy
Grounding provides a safe path for stray electric current, reducing the risk of shock and electrical fires. It does not directly improve accuracy or conserve energy, and it has no effect on signal speed. Proper grounding is part of standard lab safety protocols.
What is the recommended maximum height for stacking chemical reagent bottles in storage cabinets?
No limit if secured
Stack up to five bottles high
One bottle high
Two bottles high
Stacking no more than two bottles high reduces the risk of toppling and breakage. One bottle per shelf is ideal, but two is acceptable with care. More than two elevates the chance of accidents.
Why should you rinse a burette with the titrant before performing a titration?
To prevent glass etching
To sterilize the burette
To clean out any residual water that would dilute the titrant
To calibrate the burette scale
Rinsing with the titrant ensures that any residual water is replaced, preventing dilution of the titrant and maintaining accurate concentration. Water residue would alter volumes and skew results. Calibration and sterilization are separate processes.
What is the preferred method to sterilize a heat-sensitive biological solution in the lab?
UV irradiation for 5 minutes
Membrane filtration through a 0.22 µm filter
Dry heat oven at 160°C
Autoclaving at 121°C
Membrane filtration through a 0.22 µm filter removes bacteria without heating, preserving heat-sensitive components. Autoclaving and dry heat denature proteins and inactivate enzymes. UV irradiation has limited penetration and is not reliable for solutions.
Which inert gas is most commonly used to maintain an oxygen-free atmosphere in a glovebox handling air-sensitive compounds?
Nitrogen
Helium
Argon
Neon
Argon is denser than air, inert, and widely available, making it ideal for gloveboxes. Nitrogen is also used but can contain trace oxygen and moisture unless purified. Helium and neon are expensive and less practical.
When generating hydrogen gas in a sealed reaction system, what apparatus is essential to prevent backflow and safely vent the gas?
Desiccator
Drying tube with silica gel
Oil bubbler (gas trap)
Condenser
An oil bubbler allows gases to exit while preventing air from re-entering, minimizing explosion risk. Condensers cool vapors but do not block backflow. Desiccators and drying tubes remove moisture but do not protect against air ingress.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Proper Glassware Protocols -

    Recognize and follow the correct procedures when gathering glassware and equipment for an experiment to ensure safety and accuracy.

  2. Apply Safe Cleanup Procedures -

    Demonstrate the steps to safely clean up and decontaminate a workspace if a lab experiment is not completed, minimizing risk and contamination.

  3. Identify Correct Waste Disposal Methods -

    Distinguish between chemical and non-chemical waste streams and choose the appropriate disposal techniques for each.

  4. Demonstrate Proper Equipment Handling -

    Handle common laboratory instruments and apparatus correctly, reducing the chance of damage or injury during experiments.

  5. Evaluate Emergency Response Actions -

    Assess and execute the correct emergency procedures for spills, fires, and injuries in the lab setting.

  6. Analyze Safety Symbols and Hazards -

    Interpret standard lab safety symbols and predict potential hazards in a chemistry lab safety quiz scenario.

Cheat Sheet

  1. PPE and Glassware Inspection -

    When gathering glassware and equipment for an experiment you should always inspect for cracks, chips, and residue while donning safety goggles, gloves, and a lab coat (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132). Use the "GGC" mnemonic (Goggles, Gloves, Coat) to make PPE second nature. Mastering this step is key to nailing your laboratory safety quiz questions and staying accident-free.

  2. Chemical Waste Segregation -

    Always segregate chemical waste into organic, inorganic, and sharps containers, labeling each with date and contents per EPA's RCRA guidelines. For example, acids and bases go into separate neutralization bins, and solvents into halogenated versus non-halogenated waste streams. This protocol often appears in lab safety quiz answers as a critical best practice for environmental compliance.

  3. Equipment Calibration and Handling -

    Proper pipette and balance calibration is crucial - check volumetric glassware at 20 °C with deionized water and adjust pipettes against a certified standard. A quick tip for chemistry lab safety quiz prep: "20 °C water weight = 1 g/mL," so a 10 mL pipette should deliver 10.00 g. Consistent calibration minimizes experimental error and keeps the lab running smoothly.

  4. Emergency Response and SDS Familiarity -

    Your chemistry lab safety quiz will likely test your ability to interpret the NFPA diamond and read Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Remember the "RACE" mnemonic for fires - Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish - and always know eyewash and safety shower locations. Swift, informed action based on official SDS info can reduce injury and property damage.

  5. Shutdown Procedures and Cleanup -

    If a lab experiment is not completed you should follow your institution's standard operating procedure: label chemicals for storage, neutralize hazardous residues, and wipe down surfaces with appropriate solvents. A simple acronym "L.N.W." (Label, Neutralize, Wipe) helps ensure no step is missed. Proper shutdown habits earn top marks on any lab safety quiz and keep your workspace ready for the next challenge.

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