Developing Scientific Skills for Laboratory Work: A Practical Approach, Assignments of Computer science

Download Developing Scientific Skills for Laboratory Work: A Practical Approach and more Assignments Computer science in PDF only on Docsity! Unit 2: Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques D: Review personal development of scientific skills for laboratory work. Assignment Title - How am I doing? - REPORT The key skills to be a good scientist Becoming a successful scientist needs a set of abilities and attributes that allow for effective study, analysis, and communicating. Good scientists make a lifelong commitment to studying and remaining current on advances in their profession. They continually look for fresh ideas, study scientific books for knowldedge attend conferences, and participate in educational activities like we have done in the lab to broaden and improve their knowledge base and abilities. Surprising problems and failures are common in scientific study. When presented with challenges, good scientists are adaptive, able to modify their techniques and studies. They are always learning from mistakes and continuing in their search of information. Teamwork is an essential component in scientific study. Working together with lab partners, exchanging work , and contributing to projects are all skills that good scientists possess. They've got great communication abilities, value other points of view, and actively participate in team discussions. Scientists must be able to communicate their research findings, ideas, and thoughts effectively in order to share them with their peers and the larger scientific community. Scientists must be able to accurately communicate complex ideas, share scientific papers, show their findings at meetings, and participate in discussions with lab partners.A good scientist understands the scientific process and the significance of accurate of hypothesis testing. They know how to design studies, regulate variables, and ensure repeatability. It is also essential to be familiar with guidelines for proper and accountable research practices Strong critical thinking abilities enable good scientists to assess material, find patterns, and create logical connections. They have the ability to analyse facts, identify faults in arguments, and develop logical conclusions based on evidence.During their study, scientists face a variety of hurdles and problems. It is critical to be able to approach issues logically, break them down into manageable bits, and generate innovative solutions. Scientists with good problem solving skills can overcome difficulties and develop their studies.Effective scientists have great quantitative and analytical abilities. They are skilled in handling and analysing large amounts of data using proper statistical approaches. They can assess data, spot trends like in TLC and Graphs from cooling curves and create key findings. Cooling Curves During the cooling curves practical we did many things to ensure safety like monitoring the boiling water created a risk of burns when handling it. Wearing lab coats and goggles also being very careful when moving the hot water away from the the boiling water. This caused a possibility of spillage because the hot water was sitting on the gauze and when lifting the thermometer away we had to be careful. Also whilst the water was boiling there can be a chance the water boils too much causing it to splash everywhere if not monitored correctly. This leaves the chance of being burned on the skin/ scalding. The lab coat protected the majority of our body only leaving our hands exposed. To avoid the water from being overboiled the students in our group carefully monitored the temperature and how vigorously the water started to boil. This lowers the chance of scalding too when its carefully under watch. The Paraffin wax substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of fumes. The fume is irritating to the eyes, nose and throat causing inhalation risk. Stearic acid at 20°C, evaporation is low and when dispersed its irritating and can make a concentration of airborne particles. The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion. Wearing lab coats and goggles reduced the chance of wounds in the event that the glass equipment shattered because its very fragile.If there were any breaks the responsible tutor was promptly notified to reduce the chance of cutting. If cuts were to take place during the experiment so the wounded part would be attended to and medical help immediately to prevent any infections. If anybody had been burned during the experiment they would have poured water on the affected area and found medical help from the teacher who is in charge of monitoring the experiment. The bunsen burner was also on the blue flame whilst it was boiling the water and this also has a chance of causing burns when moving away the bunsen burner because we can clearly see the flame. All students and lab personnel are required to wear proper PPE, such as lab coats, gloves, and safety goggles. This safeguards against chemical spills, burns, and other risks. All students and staff must have easy access to eye wash points in the lab. These stations are critical in the event of a chemical spill or other disaster that might cause eye discomfort or injury. In case event a fire, fire extinguishers must be situated in the lab and immediately accessible. Schools must guarantee that both staff and students are properly taught in the usage of fire extinguishers. chemicals under lock and key and there are types of cabinets like flammable cabinet , poisonous cabinet and oxidizing chemicals stored separately fume cupboards are serviced, needed for practical use, constraints Chromatography In the chromatography Chemicals dealing with is one possible safety hazard in the TLC practicals . Solvents and other chemical reagents are used in TLC and paper chromatography. Some solvents such as methanolare potentially flammable or poisonous. Researchers should maintain adequate laboratory ventilation and handle these compounds in a fume cupboard in a airy place. It is critical to understand the characteristics and possible risks of the solvents and reagents employedand as well as to wear suitable PPE like gloves and safety glasses. Chemical leaks are a possibility in both TLC and paper chromatography. Spilled solvents or chemicals can make surfaces slippery, increasing the risk of accidents such as slips and falls. spills must be cleaned up as soon as possible, and spill control procedures and tissued must be readily available in the laboratory. Titration For measuring with the pH we had to rush our pH readings due to not being able to correctly use the apparatus, with the help of our teacher we managed to quickly get our results down but due to us having to rush our result isnt that near to the real value and this is because we struggled doing the pH readings. Our precision was indeed affected as because we didnt have enough time to carefully and accurately measure the readings on the meter and if the pH meter had any scratches this would affect the accuracy of our results. And from this my skills are developing in how to use effective practices so that i can operate equipment without guidance, the help offered by the tutor also displays our need to pay attention more as being able to listen is greatly important in the scientific field and an important skill to have. These situations refine my ability to be able to pay close attention when it is necessary. Cooling Curves The cooling curves acquired from the practical are analysed by us. We develop an understanding of curve characteristics such as the beginning melting point, solidification point any phase changes that happen. They also learn how to evaluate data in order to comprehend the cooling properties of paraffin wax and stearic acid. Students are taught how to draw cooling curves by charting temperature vs time or temperature versus cooling rate. They learn how to create proper axes, name them, and select acceptable scales to appropriately depict data. They also learn to understand the graphs in order to derive connections about the cooling capabilities of the materials. We learn how to draw these tangents and conclude the heat lost. I was cautious about how much water we put into the beaker. Keeping a pen and paper on hand at all times allows you to record the outcomes . We asked our colleagues for the outcomes they received since they had to be comparable because everyone did the same experiment. My patience as a scientist proved to be beneficial now since the experiment required regular recording. Each minute that passed, i needed to look at how much the temperature changed and sometimes this was a challenge because the time frame was a minute long so to get a proper result. I had to analyse the temperature and act fast and make a precise conclusion of the temperature to not have a graph that wasn't inaccurate or anomalous results. I also asked for consolation by asking my fellow peers to also check the temperate to enhance my teamworking skillset as this can allow to eliminate anomalous results due to human error. Recurring the experiment enhances your abilities by allowing you to get more acquainted with the apparatus and all of the equipment. The cooling curves acquired from the practical are analysed by us. Practicals utilising cooling curves for paraffin wax and stearic acid in a school laboratory environment are used to improve skills. This experiment gives students hands-on experience and helps them to build skills in experimental design, data gathering and analysis, critical thinking, and scientific inquiry. The practicals also help students acquire laboratory procedures and equipment handling abilities. Students learn how to work with paraffin wax and stearic acid, as well as temperature probes or thermometers. They gain practical expertise in properly recording and recording temperatures, operating laboratory equipment securely, and adhering to standard handling practises. These abilities are required for running experiments properly and collecting accurate results. I learned how to accurately plot graphs and create sensible results for cooling rates and also successfully draw these tangents. The development of analytical skills in order for making statistical graphs based on our findings is seen here as this allows me to acknowledge the importance of having the skill to analyze data to make conclusions. This is important because in order for patterns and trends to be seen, data must be analysed and broken down first. The analysed and interpreted data may then be used as evidence in scientific hypotheses. As we completed one practical after another teamwork was essential and was developed continuously, this is a skill that was essential in every practical that took place. My peers in practicals i did have to be able to communicate properly, pay attention to one another, and share ideas and information. This allows for more effective job coordination, ensuring everyone is on the same page, and makes it easier to share significant results or ideas. Team members may prevent misconceptions, resolve problems, and build a healthy and productive work environment by communicating effectively.