08/28/2013 Basic Chemistry Lab Equipment Beaker Beakers are used for routine measuring and mixing in the lab. They are used to measure volumes to within 10% accuracy. Most beakers are made from borosilicate glass, though other materials may be used. The flat bottom and spout allow this piece of glassware to be stable on the lab bench or hot plate, plus it's easy to pour a liquid without making a mess. Beakers are also easy to clean. Watch Glass Watch glasses are concave dishes that have a variety of uses. They can serve as lids for flasks and beakers. Watch glasses are nice for holding small samples for observation under a low-power microscope. Watch glasses are used for evaporating liquid off of samples, such as growing seed crystals. 1 08/28/2013 Wire Gauze Used to support a container on a Bunsen burner and prevents the direct contact between the glass and the flame. It also helps to spread the flame or heat over the container during heating process. Ring Stand A metal stand consisting of a long upright rod attached to a heavy rectangular base that is used with rings and clamps for supporting laboratory apparatus Iron Ring An iron ring, sometimes called an iron support ring, is used in chemistry labs to stabilize flasks mounted to a ring stand. Some iron rings include a clamp, while others require a utility clamp to attach to a ring stand. 2 08/28/2013 Utility Clamps Instruments that are used to hold or support items such as glassware or chemistry equipment. There are different types of utility clamps such as extension and adjustable-angle clamps. Funnel A conical piece of glassware that terminates in a narrow tube. It is used to transfer substances into containers that have narrow mouths. Funnels may be made of any material. Test Tube Test tubes are round- bottom cylinders, usually made of borosilicate glass so that they can withstand temperature changes and resist reaction with chemicals. Sometimes test tubes are called culture tubes. A culture tube is a test tube without a lip. 3 08/28/2013 Test Tube Rack They are used to hold test tubes, and sometimes pipettes, that contain chemicals that are awaiting further action. Some have pegs to hold test tubes upside down for drying after being cleaned. Test Tube Clamp It is a clamp that holds a test tube -- for instance to hold a test tube while heating it without getting burned. It is made from a thick piece of metal wire that is shaped into a spring- loaded clamp to securely hold a test tube. Eye Dropper Used in chemistry, biology, and medicine to transfer a measured volume of liquid. Measurement accuracy varies greatly depending on the style. 4 08/28/2013 Pipette (Pipet) Pipets or pipettes are droppers calibrated to deliver a specific volume. Some pipets are marked like graduated cylinders. Other pipets are filled to a line to reliably deliver one volume again and again. Pipettes may be made of glass or plastic. To n g s Large pincers for grasping and lifting glassware that may be hot or cold. They may also be called Beaker Tongs or Crucible Tongs. Thermometers Used to measure the temperature, or temperature changes of solids, liquids, and gases. They can be analog (with a liquid inside) or digital. Calibrated to a high degree of accuracy. 5 08/28/2013 Graduated Cylinder Used to measure volumes accurately. Graduated cylinders usually are made from borosilicate glass, though there are plastic cylinders, too. Common sizes are 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 ml. Choose a cylinder such that the volume to be measured will be in the upper half of the container. This minimizes measurement error. Bunsen Burner Named after Robert Bunsen, Produces a single open gas flame, which is used for heating, sterilization, and combustion. Water Bottle (Wash Bottle) A squeeze bottle with a nozzle, used to rinse various pieces of laboratory equipment. Wash bottles are sealed with a screw-top lid. When hand pressure is applied to the bottle, the liquid inside becomes pressurized and is forced out of the nozzle into a narrow stream of liquid. Most bottles contain an internal dip tube allowing upright use. Wash bottles may be filled with a range of common laboratory solvents and reagents, according to the work carried out in that lab. These include: deionized water, detergent solutions and rinse solvents. 6 08/28/2013 Erlenmeyer Flask Erlenmeyer flasks are used to measure, mix, and store liquids. The shape makes this flask very stable. Most erlenmeyer flasks are made of borosilicate glass so that they can be heated over a flame or autoclaved. They can be found in 50, 125, 250, 500, 1000 ml. You can seal them with a cork or stopper or place plastic or paraffin film or a watch glass on top of them. Evaporating Dish A piece of laboratory glassware used for the evaporation of solids and supernatant fluids, and sometimes to their melting point. Evaporating dishes are used to evaporate excess solvents, most commonly water - to produce a concentrated solution or a solid precipitate of the dissolved substance. Hot Plate Used as a substitute for a bunsen burner to heat fluids in glassware without flame. Hot plates can be temperature regulated and some can automatically stir solutions. 7 08/28/2013 Safety Glasses and Goggles Protective eyewear to prevent liquids and solids from getting into the eyes. They are made of polycarbonate plastics and the lenses are shatterproof. Review Lab equipment is safe when used correctly. Always wear safety glasses and aprons when doing any experiment. Glasses and clothing can be replaced, your eyes and skin cannot. 8.