| Mistake | Number of rookies who have done this
|
|---|
| Set up reaction under Ar, added in reagents and forgot to add stir bar
| 28
|
| While performing the reflux reactions, I forgot to switch on the Water circulator.
| 23
|
| forgot to make co spot in the TLC .
| 22
|
| Handeled volitile, smelly and/or toxic solvents or reagents (benzene, carbon disulfide, acrylates, etc.) outside of the fume hood.
| 21
|
| Used latex gloves while washing glassware with soap - glassware goes flying around the sink
| 20
|
| lost vacuum on rotevap, flask drops, shattering into filthy water bath, extract organics from dirty water while filtering the dead bugs floating in it
| 20
|
| Did not measure melting point of any organic compounds for an entire year. Measured melting point of all organic compounds synthesised within one year the night before thesis was due.
| 19
|
| Wore incorrect gloves, dissolved them.
| 19
|
| Pick up something from the floor and while doing so, dropping the contents out of the front pocket of your lab-coat (usually NMR tubes)
| 19
|
| Added a stir bar to a flask sitting on a magnetic stir plate and the flask breaks.
| 19
|
