USING & INTERPRETING MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS(MSDSs) 
& CHEMICAL LABELS 
LESSON PLANS

by Dr. Sandra S. West

Grade Level: Secondary

AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy

Ch. 12c Habits of Mind, Manipulation & Observation

Grades 3-5. p 293

Measure & mix dry & liquid materials in presecibed amounts, exercising reasonable safety.

Make safe electrical connections...

Grades 9-12, p 294

Use power tools safely ...

 

National Science Education Standards

Ch.3 Science Teaching Standards

D. Teachers of science ensure a safe working environment. p 43

 

TEKS K-12

(1) Scientific Processes. The student,...using safe, ...practices

(A) demonstrate safe practices during field and laboratory investigations

 

OBJECTIVE: Students will be able to use & to interpret the information on MSDSs in different formats & a chemical label as specified in the "Responsibilities of Educational Institutions Under the Texas Hazard Communication Act, 1986 and 1993.

I. USE & INTERPRET an MSDS

Materials:

1. Transparencies of MSDS on Ethyl Alcohol (page B) & Hydrochloric Acid (page C() Blackline masters provided)

2. One set per student or group of:

A. MSDS Student Study Guide

B. MSDS Answer Sheet (page A1, A2)

C. MSDS on Ethyl Alcohol (page B1, B2, B3) - class set

D. MSDS on Hydrochloric Acid (page C) - class set

Procedure:

1. Instruct the students regarding the law (see MSDS Student Study Guide) commonly referred to as the Texas Hazardous Communication Act of 1986 & 1993. Students should know how to use & interpret the information on MSDSs and the safe use of hazardous chemicals.

2. The students may work individually, in pairs or groups through the MSDS Student Study Guide & MSDS Answer Sheets (page A1 & A2) to learn how to use & interpret the MSDS for Ethyl Acohol (B1, B2, B3). By completing the information requested on the MSDS Student Study Guide & answering the questions in part C the student will be able to use the chemical name, know conditions to avoid, know health & fire hazards, recognize special precautions & be able to define terms such as "external", "internal", & "ingestion".

3. When the students have completed the MSDS Student Study Guide & MSDS Answer Sheets

(A1, A2, A3) using the MSDS on Ethyl Alcohol (page B1, B2), ask questions to check for understanding & for extension such as:

A. Are the eyes, parts of the face, & outer parts of the body an external or internal part of the body?

B. When does ingestion occur - Is it when something is taken into or outside of the body?

C. If a student is doing a lab using Ethyl Alcohol & splashes some in his eye, is that a problem? What steps should the teacher & student take to treat the eye?

D. If the lab requires the use of an open flame, do you need to take any precautions in using Ethyl Alcohol near an open flame?

E. Does Ethyl Alcohol react with other substances?

II. USE & INTERPRET CHEMICAL LABELS

Materials:

1. Transparencies of color-coded hazardous chemical label & Hazard Coding System.

2. One set per student or per group of:

A. Chemical Label Student Study Guide

B. Hazard Coding System (page E)

C. Class set of an MSDS on the first chemical that the class will use for Safety Quiz

Procedure:

The students may work individually, in pairs or in groups through the Chemical Label Student Study Guide to learn how to use & interpret chemical labels.

III. ASSESSMENT: Administer "Safety Quiz" for assessment of students' knowledge of how to use the chemical name, know which conditions to avoid, know fire & health hazards, & recognize special precautions.

Developed by Dr. Sandra S. West, Please do not copy w/o credit being given to author.

e-mail: sw04@.swt.edu

Department of Biology

Southwest Texas State University San Marcos, TX 78666-4616

512-245-3360; FAX 512-245-8713

Return to Safety in Science Education.