My laboratory

Chemistry as a science began to develop only than man began to experiment and record his findings. The first step in his scientific work was the accumulation of experimental data. All his experiments he had to carry on in a special room that he called laboratory. To carry out experiments one needs some glassware. On every laboratory bench in labs of inorganic, organic and analytical chemistry we can see test-tubes, beakers, flasks, funnels, evaporating dishes, weighing bottles and pipettes.

Every laboratory is to be provided with gas, running-water and, of course, with a ventilating hood for the escape of harmful and unpleasant vapors and odors. Every lab has to be lit up very well.

In laboratories one can see various apparatus such as the apparatus for fractional distillation, the apparatus for the determination of molecular weigh by the freezing-point depression method and a lot of others.

There are different burners for producing flames. Bunsen is to be mentioned among others.

On the laboratory benches one can see a great number of crucibles used when heating or igniting of materials are to be carried out. Crucibles are usually made of quartz, iron and porcelain.

There are different kinds of balances in the labs. The analytical balances are the most sensitive.

D. I. Mendeleyev

D. I. Mendeleyev, the Great Russian chemist, was born in Siberian on February 8, 1834, When 7 years old he especially liked mathematics, physics and history. At the age of 16 he entered the Pedagogical Institute in St. Petersburg, physico-mathematical department. He graduated from the Institute and began to teach chemistry at the Technological Institute and then at the University. In1865 M was granted the Doctor of Science degree for the thesis on the combination of alcohol with water. Soon after that M was appointed Professor of General Chemistry of St. Petersburg University. Despite lectures and supervision of the laboratory, M carried on great research work.

M’s greatest discovery was the Periodic Law. It suggested by M stated that the properties of the elements were a periodic function of their atomic masses. M’s Periodic Law opened a new area in the history of chemistry.

M was interested in many branches of science. His numerous works dealt with many subjects: properties of liquids, theories of solutions, the development of the gas law, the use of oil and many others.

M was a great patriot. He did everything for the development and progress of his country.

The world is thankful to M for his great contribution to the world science. At present is hardly anybody who doesn’t know this Russian scientist and his Periodic Law. We are proud of M who did so much for his country, for the development of the world science.

The measurements in chemistry

In order to understand the quantitative relationships which exist between various kinds of matter, the chemist who is interested in matter and the changes which it undergoes, has to measure the quantities of matter which he works, he is to measure mass. The measuring device the chemist is to employ in this determination should be the balance.

Since for every chemical change there is always accompanying energy change which the chemist has to take into account, the calorimeter and the thermometer have to be used.

The chemist usually employs graduated cylinders, burettes, pipettes and volumetric flasks for the measurements of volumes of liquids, and the gas burette for the measurement of volumes of gases.

The chemist employs the barometer if he has to measure the pressure.

The analytical chemist and the physical chemist employ such devices as calorimeters, polarimeters, refracometers and a number of electrical devices.

If the chemist is to examine very small samples of matter, he should use a microscope.

The fundamental unite of the metric system is the meter. The millimeter and centimeter are the units which the chemist uses very frequently in his work.

If one is to measure extremely short distances, the micron is to be used.

The unite of mass is the gram, milligram or the kilogram.

The unite of the heat measurement is the calorie.