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Quizzes > Science > Chemistry

Ultimate Lab Safety Rules Quiz: Are You Lab-Safety Ready?

Think you know lab safety? Dive in to see if hot glass really looks like cold glass and what to do with chipped glassware!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper art lab safety quiz icons beaker flask test tube gloves goggles, on sky blue background

Are you ready to prove your lab safety smarts? Our Lab Safety Quiz: Is Chipped or Cracked Glassware Safe? invites you to challenge yourself with questions on when chipped or cracked glassware is okay to use, plus tricky scenarios like does hot glass looks the same as cold glass. true false. You'll also tackle essential best practices - after completing an experiment all chemical waste should be disposed properly - and learn when to swap out damaged tools. You'll gain confidence in handling glassware safely and mastering lab protocols. Take this fun laboratory safety quiz - ideal for students, researchers, and safety enthusiasts - and then review science laboratory safety test answers to compare your results. Dive in now!

Why should chipped or cracked glassware be removed from service?
It may harbor bacteria
It can break unpredictably and cause injury
It is aesthetically unpleasing
It can alter pH readings
Chipped or cracked glassware has weakened structural integrity, making it prone to sudden failure under normal lab conditions. This can lead to spills of hazardous materials and personal injury. Removing damaged glassware reduces the risk of accidents and ensures lab safety. OSHA Lab Safety Guidelines
What should you inspect before using any glassware in the lab?
Brand label
Presence of cracks or chips
Ink color on graduations
Price tag
Inspecting glassware for chips, cracks, or stress points helps prevent unexpected breakage during experiments. Any defect compromises safety and accuracy. A simple visual and tactile check can prevent injuries and contamination. NIOSH Lab Safety Guidance
What is the first action if you notice a small crack in a beaker?
Use it for nonhazardous liquids only
Immediately take it out of service
Seal it with tape
Heat it gently to expand the crack
At the first sign of a crack, glassware should be removed from use to avoid sudden failure. Temporary fixes like tape do not restore structural integrity. Proper disposal or recycling prevents accidents and potential exposure to hazardous contents. OSHA Lab Safety Guidelines
Why is it dangerous to heat glassware that has visible cracks?
It can shatter under thermal stress
It will enhance reaction speed
It only affects optical clarity
Cracks will self-seal when heated
Heating cracked glassware subjects the weakened area to thermal stress, increasing the likelihood of a catastrophic break. Shattering glass can cause chemical spills and personal injury. Always use intact, heat-resistant glassware for hot experiments. NIST Material Safety
What protective gear is essential when handling glassware?
Gloves and safety goggles
Ear plugs
Steel-toed boots
Radiation badge
Safety goggles protect eyes from flying shards and chemical splashes, while gloves provide a barrier against cuts. Proper PPE reduces the risk of lacerations and chemical exposure. Always don the correct gear before handling glass objects. OSHA PPE Standards
When is chipped glassware acceptable for use?
When used for nonhazardous experiments
After sanding down the chip
Never; it must be replaced
Only if taped over
Chipped glassware has compromised strength and should never be used. Even nonhazardous tasks can lead to unexpected failures, risking injury and contamination. Best practice is immediate replacement or disposal following institutional guidelines. NIOSH Lab Safety Guidance
Which tool is recommended for cleaning up broken glass?
Bare hands
Broom and dustpan or brush
Vacuum cleaner
Wet paper towels only
Using a broom and dustpan keeps hands away from sharp edges. Vacuums can damage machinery and spread shards, while bare hands and wet towels increase cut risk. Dispose of fragments in a designated sharps container. OSHA Cleanup Procedures
How should you dispose of intact but expired glass labware?
In the regular trash
With chemical waste
In a labeled glass disposal box
Down the drain
Intact but retired glassware should be placed in designated glass disposal containers to prevent injuries. Regular trash can endanger custodial workers, and chemical waste streams are inappropriate for clean glass. Always follow institutional disposal policies. EPA Waste Management
What indicates a surface scratch might hide a deeper flaw?
When the scratch is shallow
If it reflects a rainbow pattern
When you feel a burr or rough edge
Only if it’s on the exterior
A burr or rough edge around a scratch suggests material loss and stress concentration, which can lead to crack initiation. Even shallow-looking damage can compromise glass strength. Damaged glass should be retired or evaluated further. NIOSH Lab Safety
How does thermal shock cause glassware to fracture?
By exposing it to acid vapors
By rapid temperature change creating internal stress
By slow heating beyond melting point
By mechanical impact only
Thermal shock occurs when one part of the glass heats or cools faster than another, generating internal stress. This stress can exceed the material’s tensile strength and cause cracks or breakage. Using heat-resistant glass and gradual temperature changes mitigates the risk. Thermal Shock Explained
What is the proper way to test if glassware is hot?
Touch it briefly with bare skin
Bring the back of your hand close to feel radiant heat
Blow on it
Look for color change only
Holding the back of your hand near (not touching) the glassware lets you sense heat without risking burns or cuts. Direct contact with hot glass is dangerous, and blowing on it can disperse chemicals. Proper technique protects you and maintains experiment integrity. OSHA Lab Safety
Which type of glassware is most resistant to thermal stress?
Soda–lime glass
Borosilicate glass
Lead crystal glass
Annealed glass
Borosilicate glass has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, making it resistant to thermal shock and stress. It is widely used in labware for heating applications. Soda–lime and lead crystal are more prone to cracking under rapid temperature changes. Borosilicate Glass Properties
Which practice contaminates a chemical waste container?
Pouring only pure organic solvents
Mixing incompatible wastes
Labeling clearly
Using a designated funnel
Mixing incompatible chemicals can cause dangerous reactions, releases of toxic gases, or container rupture. Proper waste segregation prevents contamination and hazards. Always follow chemical compatibility and waste disposal guidelines. EPA Hazardous Waste Guidelines
How should acid waste be neutralized before disposal?
Dilute with water only
Add base slowly while stirring
Heat strongly to evaporate
Mix with organic solvent
Neutralizing acid waste involves adding a base (like sodium bicarbonate) slowly while stirring to prevent vigorous reactions. Monitoring pH ensures safe disposal. Simply diluting or heating can be dangerous and noncompliant. OSHA Chemical Management
Which label color often indicates a flammable chemical hazard?
Blue
Red
Green
Yellow
Under NFPA and GHS labeling systems, red denotes flammability hazards. Blue indicates health hazards, yellow for reactivity, and green for general safety information. Proper labeling ensures safe handling and storage. OSHA HazCom Standard
What risk arises from using scratched pipettes for volume measurements?
Increased evaporation rate
Inaccurate volume due to fluid adherence
No risk; scratches are cosmetic
Enhanced chemical purity
Scratches create sites where liquid can cling or bead irregularly, leading to inaccurate volume readings. Precise measurements are critical in experiments. Scratched glassware should be replaced to maintain accuracy. NIST Volumetric Analysis
Which method best detects tiny cracks in a graduated cylinder?
Visual inspection under bright light
Measuring pH
Weighing empty
Tapping for sound only
Shining bright light or backlighting the cylinder helps highlight fine cracks or hairline fractures. Visual inspection is quick and effective for small defects. Tapping may help but is less reliable alone. NIOSH Lab Safety Guidance
Why is annealed glass typically more prone to breakage than tempered glass?
It has residual surface compression
It has uniform internal stress
It contains lead
It is made of soda–lime only
Annealed glass cools slowly, resulting in minimal internal stress differences. Tempered glass has surface compression and internal tension, making it stronger and more resistant to impact. Annealed glass thus fails more easily under stress. Tempered vs Annealed Glass
What is the recommended maximum direct flame exposure for borosilicate glassware?
Continuous exposure at full flame
No more than a few seconds at the tip
Unlimited if cooled gradually
It cannot be flame heated
Borosilicate glass tolerates some direct flame but should only be exposed briefly at the flame’s tip to avoid local overheating. Prolonged direct flame can cause thermal gradients and cracking. Use flame-resistant techniques and avoid high-temperature zones. NIST Material Safety
What mechanism drives crack propagation in glass under tensile stress?
Plastic deformation at the crack tip
Stress concentration amplifying at flaw sites
Chemical corrosion only
Magnetic field alignment
Glass fractures by stress concentration at microscopic flaws, which intensifies local stress and causes crack growth under tensile loading. Unlike metals, glass doesn’t plastically deform, making flaw size critical. Reducing surface defects increases strength. Griffith’s Theory of Fracture
How does internal stress differ in tempered versus annealed glass?
Tempered glass has compressive surface stress and tensile core stress
Annealed glass has higher surface compression
Tempered glass is stress-free
Annealed glass has core compression
Tempering introduces surface compression with balancing tensile stress in the core, improving impact resistance. Annealed glass lacks this differential, making it weaker under mechanical or thermal shock. The stress profile determines failure behavior. Tempered Glass Structure
What is the disposal protocol for glass contaminated with dichromate?
Rinse and recycle with lab glass
Place in hazardous waste with proper labeling
Autoclave and trash
Neutralize and pour down the drain
Dichromate is a known carcinogen and oxidizer; contaminated glass is hazardous waste. It must be collected in a labeled hazardous waste container for proper disposal by licensed handlers. Routine rinsing and recycling are not permitted. EPA Hazardous Waste Requirements
Which laboratory glass offers the highest resistance to strong alkalis?
Borosilicate glass
Quartz (fused silica)
Soda–lime glass
Lead crystal glass
Fused silica or quartz has exceptional chemical resistance, especially to strong alkalis that attack borosilicate. It is used in highly corrosive applications despite higher cost. Soda–lime and lead crystal are less resistant. Fused Silica Properties
How is fracture toughness of lab glassware typically quantified?
Young’s modulus measurement
Stress intensity factor (KIC)
Thermal conductivity test
Surface hardness scale
The critical stress intensity factor (KIC) measures the resistance of a material to crack propagation. It’s the standard metric for fracture toughness. Higher KIC values indicate better resistance to crack growth. ASTM E399 Standard
Why are turbid or frosted cracks generally more dangerous than clear ones?
They indicate deeper, water-filled flaws
They are easier to polish out
They only occur on the exterior
They self-heal over time
Turbid or frosted cracks often signal subsurface damage with microvoids, making them more difficult to detect and more prone to rapid propagation. Clear surface scratches are superficial by comparison. Subsurface defects compromise overall strength. Glass Fracture Mechanics
What is the recommended inspection frequency for routinely used lab glassware?
Annually
Before each use
Every five uses
When visibly dirty
A visual and tactile inspection before each use ensures early detection of defects. Waiting for visible damage or fixed intervals can miss developing cracks. Consistent pre-use checks uphold safety and prevent laboratory incidents. NIOSH Lab Safety
How does the modulus of rupture relate to glass safety?
It measures resistance to deformation under heat
It indicates the maximum tensile stress before failure
It describes the glass’s thermal expansion
It is unrelated to mechanical strength
The modulus of rupture is the flexural strength indicating the maximum stress a material can withstand in bending before cracking. It helps predict failure when glassware is under load. Higher values denote safer, more robust glass. Flexural Strength in Materials
What is a non-destructive method to evaluate internal flaws in glassware?
Destructive tensile testing
X-ray or ultrasound inspection
Heating until failure
Chemical etching
X-ray or ultrasonic testing can reveal subsurface cracks and voids without damaging the glassware. These NDE techniques allow for safe inspection of structural integrity. They are standard in high-stakes applications requiring faultless glass. Ultrasonic Testing Overview
How do microcracks influence the fatigue life of glass under cyclic loading?
They have no influence; only macro defects matter
They act as stress concentrators and reduce fatigue life
They improve fatigue life by blunting other cracks
They only affect thermal properties
Microcracks concentrate stress at their tips during cyclic loading, promoting crack growth and reducing fatigue life. Even microscopic flaws can propagate under repeated stress cycles, leading to sudden failure. Understanding microcrack behavior is essential for predicting glassware lifespan. Fatigue and Fracture in Glass
Explain the significance of the Griffith criterion in glass failure analysis.
It relates glass viscosity to temperature
It defines critical stress for crack propagation based on flaw size
It measures optical clarity
It determines glass solubility
The Griffith criterion states that a crack will propagate when the energy release rate exceeds a critical value determined by flaw size and surface energy. It provides a theoretical basis for predicting fracture in brittle materials like glass. This model guides material selection and safety margins. Griffith’s Fracture Theory
Which advanced NDE technique uses ultrasonics to locate internal flaws in glassware?
Shearography
Phased-array ultrasonic testing
Thermography
Liquid penetrant inspection
Phased-array ultrasonic testing employs multiple ultrasonic elements and timed pulses to create detailed images of internal flaws. It can detect and size subsurface cracks in glass without damage. This high-resolution technique is used in advanced material inspections. Phased-Array Ultrasonic Testing
How does surface compressive stress in tempered glass prevent crack initiation?
By increasing surface hardness only
By counteracting tensile stresses at the surface
By aligning molecular chains
By reducing thermal conductivity
Surface compressive stress balances and exceeds any external tensile forces, preventing cracks from opening. Any crack initiation must first overcome the compressive layer, increasing impact resistance. This is the fundamental reason tempered glass shatters safely. Tempered Glass Mechanics
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Study Outcomes

  1. Determine Glassware Safety -

    Decide when chipped or cracked glassware is okay to use versus when it must be removed from service to prevent injury or contamination.

  2. Distinguish Hot and Cold Glass -

    Assess whether hot glass looks the same as cold glass and apply proper checking techniques to avoid burns.

  3. Apply Chemical Waste Protocols -

    Follow correct procedures for "after completing an experiment all chemical waste should be" disposed of safely and in compliance with regulations.

  4. Handle Flammable Materials Safely -

    Implement best practices for working with flammable substances, including storage, transfer, and ignition control.

  5. Execute Emergency Steps -

    Recall and perform immediate actions for common lab emergencies, such as spills, fires, and injuries.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Inspecting Glassware Integrity -

    Chipped or cracked glassware is okay to use? Absolutely not: even a tiny nick can turn into a full break under heat or pressure. Follow NIH Lab Safety Guide recommendations to inspect every piece before and after use.

  2. Recognizing Hot vs. Cold Glass -

    Hot glass looks the same as cold glass. true false? Though it's a classic quiz twist, the correct answer is true. A common quiz question even asks "does hot glass looks the same as cold glass," so always assume it's hot and use thermal gloves or a probe (OSHA Heat Stress Guide).

  3. Chemical Waste Disposal Protocols -

    After completing an experiment all chemical waste should be labeled, segregated by hazard class, and placed in approved waste containers - never poured down the sink. Following EPA and university disposal rules prevents contamination and regulatory violations.

  4. Safe Handling of Flammable Substances -

    Know each substance's flash point and store flammables below that temperature in a fire cabinet. Use the mnemonic "Know Your Flash, Close the Cap" to keep vapors contained and reduce ignition risk (NFPA 45).

  5. Emergency Glass Breakage Response -

    For broken glassware, use a brush and dustpan - never your bare hands - to collect shards. If a chemical splash occurs, flush the area at an eyewash station or safety shower for at least 15 minutes (CDC Laboratory Safety Manual).

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