Laboratory ApparatusesBy Prof. Liwayway Memije-Cruz

Laboratory apparatuses and equipment are indispensable tools in the laboratory. Their uses enable students to conduct accurately and systematically the experiments assigned to them for the day.

Laboratory Apparatuses

• A beaker is a common container in most laboratories for mixing, stirring, and heating chemicals. • useful as a reaction container or to hold liquid or solid samples. • used to catch liquids from titration and filtrates from filtering operations. • used to measure approximate volume.

• A test tube is a glass tube with one end open and the other end closed. The closed end is rounded. • used to hold small samples. primarily used for qualitative assessment and comparison. are also easily capped with a rubber or glass stopper.• generally held in a test tube rack specifically designed for the purpose.

• The Erlenmeyer flask is used in applications where solutions must be mixed several times.• also known as a conical flask, the Erlenmeyer flask was named after its inventor in 1861. • it has a narrow neck and expands toward its base which allows easy mixing and swirling of the flask without too much risk of spilling.

• Florence flask is also known as a boiling flask. • is used to hold liquids and can be easily swirled and heated.• is a type of flask used as an item of laboratory glassware.• it can be used as a container to hold solutions of chemicals.

• A funnel is designed to be used in a laboratory setting which can be made of plastic or glass and can have either a short stem or a long stem, depending on what they are needed for.• Glass funnels are for funneling liquids from one container to another or for filtering when used with filter paper.

• The graduated cylinder is a primary measuring tool for the volume of a liquid. • It has several markings up and down the length of the container with specific increments. • When reading the volume from a graduated cylinder, you will notice that the liquid seems to have an indentation. The liquid around the edges will be higher than the liquid in the center is called the meniscus. • To properly read the volume. Line the lowest point of the meniscus up with the nearest marking, keeping the cylinder level.

• A volumetric flask is a round flask with a long neck and flat bottom. • It is used to measure an exact volume of liquid. There is a small line on the neck that indicates how far to fill the bottle.• They come with special caps that will not let anything in or out.• Remember that temperature affects volume; therefore avoid using liquids that will fluctuate in temperature.

Pipettes are used for measuring an exact volume of liquid and placing it into another container.

• A burette is a glass tube that is open at the top and comes to a narrow pointed opening at the bottom. Right above the bottom opening is a stopcock that can be turned to control the amount of liquid being released. Markings along the length of the tube are present to indicate the volume of liquid present.• A burette is used for extremely accurate addition of liquid. By adjusting the stopcock, the amount of liquid that is released can be slowed to a drop every few seconds. • An acid burette is used to dispense an acid into a solution which provides an excess of hydrogen (H).

A base burette is used to dispense an alkaline liquid into a solution providing an excess of hydroxide (OH).

A separating funnel is a glass funnel with a tap at the bottom used for two liquids that do not dissolve in each other.Liquids that do not dissolve in each other are called immiscible.

• A Bunsen burner is a mechanical apparatus that is connected to a flammable gas source. • There is a knob to adjust the amount of gas flow and a rotating collar that controls airflow. These both must be adjusted to get an ideal flame for heating purposes. The burner is lit with a striker or match.

A triangular file is a specialized tool for trimming and sharpening edges. Its unique, three-sided design makes it a great tool for sharpening hard-to-reach places such as saw teeth.

• Wing top/fish tail is used to bend glass in glass manipulation process. • It spreads out the heat in the bunsen burner over a larger area.

• Medicine droppers are small glass tubes with narrow tips on one end and a rubber bulb on the other. • Suck up liquid that can then be squeezed out in small drops. • These can be used to add an indicator to a solution about to be titrated.

Crucible tong is used for grabbing things that should not be touched by hand. Some tongs are specially made to hold beakers, others to hold test tubes.

• A cork borer is a metal tool often found in biology and chemistry laboratories used for boring holes in corks or rubber stoppers to insert glass tubing. • It consists of a plated tubing with precision ground cutting edges.

Mortar and pestle are used to grind paste or powder.

Test tube holder is used to hold test tubes.

Test tube brush is used to clean test tubes.

Test tube rack is used to place the test tubes.

Spot plate a flat ceramic or plastic plate containing small wells on which spot tests are made.

Watch glass is used as a surface to evaporate a liquid, to hold solids while being weighed, or as a cover for a beaker.

Thermometer is used to measure temperature.

Stirring rod is used to mix chemicals and liquids for laboratory.

Reagent bottles are used to hold liquid chemicals.

Evaporating dish is used to heat and evaporate liquids.

Condenser is used in distillation.

• A distilling flask is a piece of laboratory equipment that is used to separate mixtures of two liquids with different boiling points. • Distillation occurs when the flask is heated and the components of the mixture change from liquid to gas, with the lowest boiling point liquids changing first and liquids with the highest boiling points changing last.

• Adapter an L-shaped apparatus used to prevent pressure building up in the apparatus in distillation process. • It is a device that connects the condenser and the receiving flask in a distillation process.

Crucible is used to heat substances at a very high temperature.

Wire gauze is used to spread heat.

Tripod is used to keep things above bunsen burners for heating.

Iron Clamp is used to hold things and is placed in an iron stand to elevate other equipment. An iron ring, sometimes referred to as an iron support ring, is used in chemistry laboratory to stabilize flasks mounted to a ring stand and support them over the work area.

Clay triangle is placed on a ring attached to a ring stand as a support for a funnel, crucible, or evaporating dish.

Wash bottle is used to dispense water.

Triple beam balance is used to weigh any object within their weight limitations. Triple beam balance scales function by balancing an object with three counterweights—attached to the scale—to accurately find the object's weight.

References:https://www.scribd.com/doc/33552521/Laboratory-Apparatuses-and-Uses

https://owlcation.com/stem/A-Chemistry-Guide-List-of-Common-Laboratory-Equipment-Names-and-Uses

http://sciencing.com/uses-distilling-flask-8111625.html

http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_use_of_laboratory_iron_clamp#slide=1

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-triangular-file.htm

https://www.scribd.com/doc/57465131/Laboratory-Apparatus