Chemicals, like other laboratory supplies and materials, have several sources:
The Botany Storeroom carries only the most general chemicals (e.g., sodium sulfate, other salts, mineral acids, and bases). These are available, with instructional use getting the highest priority. Access is through a key from the department office. We are generally quite relaxed about inventory control, but you must see Gerry or other office folks about a key and are accountable for reporting to Gerry if stocks are low or depleted. There is a sign-out inventory book that must be used for everything taken from the storeroom.
Most labs in the department have open stocks of chemicals which may be for instructional, research or general purpose uses. Lab chemicals are generally the responsibility of a faculty member or a teaching assistant. Some of these chemicals may be special. Please, ask permission; it usually comes easily.
By the way, never rummage in cabinets, refrigerators, or freezers without permission.
There is a regular procedure for ordering chemicals. Gerry is responsible for preparing and processing the purchase orders. You will be able to order chemicals for (a) courses as a teaching assistant, (b) research as a research assistant, or (c) research as an aspiring botanist. In any of these alternatives, there is someone on the faculty, supervisor or professor, who can authorize the purchase request. You will have a general opportunity to become catalog-literate, because for all but the most general reagents, salts, and solvents, you or your supervisor should expedite matters by locating a vendor (such as Fisher or American Scientific) and writing down the page, item number, description, quantity, etc. If your supervisor or mentor does not have catalogs, Gerry does. They should be used in the department office, if possible. If you must use a catalog elsewhere, be sure to get permission of the office staff. Remember, you must be specific in your ordering. "I need some hydrochloric acid" won't wash!
Well, emergencies do happen. A sudden need may drive you to look outside the normal departmental procedures and resources. That drive may take you to a friendly neighbor (Plant Molecular Physiology, for example). They have a storeroom of their own on the 5th floor. You must have your professor or supervisor's OK to ask any of the PMP faculty for needed chemicals. And anything borrowed is to be replaced at the earliest possible time.
Note that some faculty have grant-supported office personnel who order on funded projects. If you are not part of such an operation, remember that arranging replacement is still your responsibility. Remember that your fellow graduate students are a veritable fount of information. The constantly changing activities make a comprehensive inventory too time consuming to be practical. So, when you have a shopping list, take a tour of the department labs and the office--and ask, ask, ask.
There are a number of "specialty chemicals" in the department, reflecting the faculty's interest in everything from the assaying the uptake of unusual compounds to creating growth media for culturally-intractable organisms. Generally, these require extra care to avoid contamination. If you are interested in these chemicals, be sure to ask.
The storage of dangerous chemicals is strictly controlled by the University's Environmental Health and Safety Office (x8660). Storerooms that are properly equipped for storage are available. The same office is responsible for disposing of dangerous chemicals. In any case, don't pour unknown materials down the drain!
Never trust unlabelled and undated material.
The StJohn air conditioning system recirculates air, so we are very concerned with safety issues. Rooms with ventilation hoods are available (StJ 507, ...). Broken glassware must be sealed in cardboard boxes and labeled as "broken glass." Please, don't throw broken glass, or anything else that could cut anyone (like razor blades or cover glass), into a wastebasket.
Some labs (StJ 406, 408-412, 415, 417, 506, 510, 605-607, 612) have deionized water taps (these are marked with a white disk in the handle). Use this sparingly. Our system is getting old, so if your work depends on high-quality water, make sure you check the quality of the water periodically.
See also: Miscellaneous Supplies; Gas; Compressed Air & Vacuum