Gloves are highly recommended when handling chemicals and glassware. The best glove to wear at all times are the heavier-style Playtex non-disposable gloves. These come in many colors and may be purchased at the bookstore or local retail stores (including supermarkets). You are welcome to borrow a pair of used Playtex gloves from the organic chem labs; they are stored in a drawer in every lab room and on the cart in the organic chem stockroom.
Thick gloves work the best to protect your hands from spills, cuts, and burns, however, they can make it difficult to handle small pieces of glassware. Students complain that thick gloves lead to glassware breakage. Some students wear thin Latex gloves, purchased at the bookstore or elsewhere. These gloves do not protect you from solvents or corrosives; these chemicals actually degrade the glove on contact. Latex gloves do provide a small level of protection from solid chemicals and solvents, and they make it easier to handle glassware without breaking it.
“Nitrile” gloves are a new type of glove which combine the best attributes of both thick Playtex and thin Latex gloves. These gloves are thin enough to allow easy glassware manipulation, while they are resistant to solvents such as methylene chloride for up to 4 minutes. These gloves are available from the main Chemistry Stockroom (see the Lab Coordinator for details).
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