In the fast-paced and stressful atmosphere of a lab, it’s easy to forget proper etiquette. Neglecting certain protocols may not seem like a big deal in the moment, but they...
10 Things to Avoid in an Organic Chemistry Lab if You Want to Stay on Your Colleagues’ Good Side
Working in an organic chemistry lab is an incredible opportunity. Not only do you get to explore the intricacies of chemical reactions, but it’s also a great environment for collaboration. More experienced researchers are often willing to share valuable tips and tricks that can make your experimental work smoother and more efficient. However, in the fast-paced, stressful, and sometimes crowded atmosphere of a lab, it’s easy to forget proper etiquette. Neglecting certain protocols may not seem like a big deal in the moment, but they can seriously frustrate your lab mates—especially the more senior researchers who have seen it all.
To help you avoid those lab faux pas, here are ten things not to do if you want to stay on good terms with everyone in the lab.
We all know how sensitive analytical balances are, and when you’re weighing out powders for your experiment, precision is key. But after you’re done, it’s just as important to clean up any residue left behind. If you’ve ever approached a scale and found it dusted with powders—especially when you have no idea what they are—you’ll understand why this can drive people mad. Leaving powders behind is not only inconsiderate, but it could also lead to contamination and potential experimental failure for the next person.
A simple solution: After using the scale, take a moment to clean up. Wipe down the surface and check that no traces of your chemicals remain.
Solvents are the lifeblood of an organic chemistry lab, and they run out fast. Whether it's hexane, acetone, or methanol, we rely on solvents for just about everything. One surefire way to irritate your colleagues is to use up the last bit of solvent from the jerrycan and not bother to refill it.
Imagine gearing up for a big reaction only to discover the solvent bottle is bone dry because someone else used the last drop and didn’t refill it. Avoid being the villain in this scenario by checking solvent levels before you start and ensuring there's enough left for others. If you’re the one who finishes off a bottle or jerrycan, refill it right away, or at least let the lab know more needs to be ordered.
The base bath is a savior for cleaning stubbornly dirty glassware. But it’s meant for glassware that has had most of the gunk scrubbed off, not for soaking beakers or flasks caked with reaction residue. Dumping glassware with thick, dirty layers into the base bath not only makes it less effective for everyone else, but it also forces someone to redo the entire bath sooner than needed.
To avoid this, clean off the worst of the grime before dunking anything into the base bath. A little extra scrubbing beforehand can make a huge difference. If you leave the base bath dirty, you’re guaranteed to get some angry glares from your lab mates who rely on it too.
The rotovap (rotary evaporator) is one of the most-used pieces of equipment in an organic chemistry lab. It makes solvent removal easy and efficient—until someone forgets to empty the trap. When you’re distilling off solvents, the collection flask and trap fill up quickly, and if they’re not emptied regularly, they can overflow, causing a mess or, even worse, cross-contamination with someone else’s work.
When you’re done with the rotovap, always empty the trap and collection flask. Leaving solvents sitting in the rotovap wastes time for the next person and can lead to unnecessary hazards. You’ll save yourself and everyone else from unnecessary headaches by keeping this piece of equipment clean and ready for the next user.
Nothing frustrates a chemist more than reaching for a bottle of a commonly used solvent—only to find it’s contaminated. Maybe you’ve been in a rush and absentmindedly dipped a used pipette into the bottle, or maybe you forgot to label a temporary container and poured it back into the main bottle. Whatever the reason, contaminating the shared solvent bottles can ruin everyone’s experiments.
The solution here is simple: Always use clean tools when working with shared solvents, and never return any unused solvents back into the main bottle. If you think something might be contaminated, inform your colleagues immediately, so the solvent can be disposed of or cleaned before anyone else unknowingly uses it.
Organic chemists often use syringes and needles for handling air-sensitive reagents, and they are delicate tools that require careful cleaning and handling. Leaving a dirty syringe or needle around not only puts others at risk of contamination but can also be a safety hazard. Chemical residues left in these tools can degrade and cause dangerous reactions when mixed with other chemicals.
Dispose of used syringes properly, and if they’re meant to be reused, make sure they’re thoroughly cleaned and dried before putting them back in circulation. A little attention to detail here goes a long way in keeping the lab running smoothly and safely.
Every lab has waste disposal rules, and they’re not just for show. Ignoring these protocols—whether it’s dumping solvents down the drain or improperly disposing of solid waste—endangers everyone and can lead to regulatory trouble. Organic chemistry labs often work with highly reactive or toxic materials, so proper disposal is crucial.
Always dispose of waste in the designated containers, and don’t mix incompatible chemicals in the same waste bottle. Label your waste, and if you’re unsure of the correct protocol, don’t hesitate to ask. It’s far better to double-check than to cause a safety issue.
Lab equipment is often shared, and some items are in constant demand. Whether it's a rotary evaporator adapter, a pressure-equalizing funnel, or a Schlenk line, it’s vital to ask before taking something that someone else might need. And if you borrow equipment, return it promptly and in the same condition you found it.
There’s nothing more annoying than hunting for a piece of equipment only to discover someone “borrowed” it without asking or, worse, left it dirty or damaged. Respect the shared nature of the lab, and if you do need to borrow something, communicate with your colleagues first.
We work with many volatile and sometimes hazardous solvents, such as ether, acetone, or chloroform, which evaporate quickly and can create dangerous atmospheres if left open. Leaving these containers open not only wastes valuable chemicals but also poses a significant safety risk to everyone in the lab. Vapors can accumulate and lead to fire hazards or cause health issues if inhaled in high concentrations.
When using volatile chemicals, keep containers tightly sealed when not in use, and store them in a fume hood or other designated safe area. Your colleagues—and the lab’s safety officer—will thank you for it.
Running out of pipette tips, gloves, or Kimwipes when you’re in the middle of an experiment is frustrating enough. But it’s even worse when you find out the previous person used the last of the consumables and didn’t bother to restock. This small oversight can cause major delays for others who might be on a tight schedule.
Always check the inventory of consumables, and if you use up the last of something, take a moment to restock from storage. If there’s no more available, inform the person responsible for ordering lab supplies to avoid running out entirely.
In the hustle and bustle of lab life, it’s easy to slip into bad habits. However, following proper lab etiquette and being considerate of your colleagues makes a huge difference in the daily workflow. Keeping the shared space clean, refilling solvents, and respecting lab protocols not only keeps the lab running smoothly but also helps foster a positive and collaborative atmosphere.
By avoiding these annoying habits, you’ll not only stay in the good graces of your colleagues but also contribute to a more efficient, safe, and productive lab environment.
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