COMMON LABORATORY APPARATUS

& EQUIPMENT AND THEIR USE

 pH MEASUREMENTS
Litmus paper is probably the
most familiar pH paper. It is
used to broadly test whether a
solution is acidic or basic and
comes in 3 types- red, blue, and
neutral. Red litmus turns blue in
basic solution, blue litmus turns
red in acidic solution, and
neutral litmus (usually purple)
turns red in acidic solutions and
blue in basic solutions.
 pH MEASUREMENTS
pH Strips are pieces of paper that
change color depending on the pH –
the acidity or alkalinity – of a
liquid. Most common pH strips are
designed to test urine, water and
saliva. There are a variety of pH
strips available. They differ by
sensitivity and what range of pH
they are designed for. The more
sensitive the pH strip, the smaller
the range in which it works. There
are pH strips with a range of 1-14,
but not very sensitive; or a pH strip
with a range of 5.5-8.5 that can
measure changes as small as 0.25 in
pH.
 pH MEASUREMENTS
pH Meter is a scientific instrument
that measures the hydrogen-ion
activity in water-based solutions,
indicating its acidity or alkalinity
expressed as pH. The pH meter
measures the difference in electrical
potential between a pH electrode
and a reference electrode, and so the
pH meter is sometimes referred to as
a "potentiometric pH meter". The
difference in electrical potential
relates to the acidity or pH of the
solution.
 WEIGHT MEASUREMENTS
Laboratory balances from a general standpoint
measure the mass of an object.
Types of Balances and Scales
Analytical Balance. These are most often found
in a laboratory or places where extreme
sensitivity is needed for the weighing of items.
Chemical analysis is always based upon mass so
the results are not based on gravity at a
specific location, which would affect the
weight. Analytical balances are so sensitive
that even air currents can affect the
measurement. To protect against this they must
be covered by a draft shield. This is a plastic or
glass enclosure with doors that allows access to
the pan.
 WEIGHT MEASUREMENTS
Top-Loading Balance. This is another balance used
primarily in a laboratory setting. They usually can
measure objects weighing around 150–5000 g. They
offer less readability than an analytical balance,
but allow measurements to be made quickly thus
making it a more convenient choice when exact
measurements are not needed. Top-loaders are
also more economical than analytical balances.
Modern top-loading balances are electric and give
a digital readout in seconds.
 WEIGHT MEASUREMENTS
Triple-Beam Balance. This type of laboratory
balance is less sensitive than a top-loading
balance. They are often used in a classroom
situation because of ease of use, durability
and cost. They are called triple-beam
balances because they have three decades
of weights that slide along individually
calibrated scales. The three decades are
usually in graduations of 100g, 10g and 1g.
These scales offer much less readability but
are adequate for many weighing
applications.
 VOLUME MEASUREMENTS
Volumes can be crudely determined using the calibration markings on some beakers
and flasks. More precise volume measurements can be done with a graduated cylinder.
The most precise volume measurements are done with pipets, burets, and volumetric
flasks.
A beaker is a cylindrical glass or
plastic vessel used for holding Beaker Tongs
liquids. It is a multi-purpose Used to pick up
piece of equipment used for beakers.
containing a chemical reaction,
measuring liquids, heating them
over a Bunsen burner's flame or
collecting them in a titration
experiment.
 VOLUME MEASUREMENTS
An Erlenmeyer flask is a cone-shaped
container with neck, so you can hold
the flask or attach a clamp or use a
stopper. Erlenmeyer flasks are used
to measure, mix, and store liquids.
The shape makes this flask very
stable. They are one of the most
common and useful pieces of
chemistry lab glassware. Most
Erlenmeyer flasks are made of
borosilicate glass so that they can be
heated over a flame or autoclaved.
The most common sizes of
erlenmeyer flasks are 250 ml and 500
ml. They can be found in 50, 125,
250, 500, 1000 ml.
 VOLUME MEASUREMENTS
A Volumetric flask is characterized by
having a bulb and a long neck. Most
volumetric flasks have a flattened
bottom so that they can be set onto the
lab bench, though some volumetric
flasks have rounded bottoms. A
volumetric flask is used to measure
very precisely one specific volume of
liquid (100 ml, 250 ml, etc., depending
on which flask you use). This flask is
used to prepare a solution of known
concentration. A volumetric flask should
not be used to heat substances or store
solutions, and you should avoid
pipetting directly from the volumetric
flask.
 VOLUME MEASUREMENTS
A Graduated cylinder is a relatively slim
glass or plastic cylinder used specifically for
calibrating beakers or measuring a liquid's
volume. Graduated cylinders come in a
variety of sizes such as 10 ml, 25 ml, 50
ml,100 ml, 500 ml and 1,000 ml. Scientists
take measurements by viewing, at eye-
level, the lowest point of the convex dip
that the liquid in the cylinder makes.
 VOLUME MEASUREMENTS

A Burette is a cylindrical, laboratory

glass apparatus that is used to
measure the volume of liquids. It is
very accurate and is used for
precision experiments, such as
titration. For a burette to perform
optimally, and give precise results,
it must be properly cleaned.
 VOLUME MEASUREMENTS

A dropper pipette or chemical dropper is a

device with a piston-driven air displacement
mechanism used to transport a given volume
of liquid mostly in the laboratory. Dropper
pipettes have a locking system that allows
them to be very accurate in transporting and
dispensing of exact volumes of liquids.
 VOLUME MEASUREMENTS

A Pipette transfers relatively small amounts of liquid. In the most commonly used
pipettes, experimenters draw liquid into one end of a glass or plastic cylinder by the
prior squeezing of the rubber or plastic ball at the opposite end. The amount of
liquid able to be drawn into the pipette is usually fixed, to enable accuracy in
measurement.
Types of Pipette
Micro pipettes are the standard laboratory
equipment used to measure and transfer small
volumes of liquids.
 VOLUME MEASUREMENTS
A Mohr Pipet is a graduated pipet that The Serological pipette is frequently used in the laboratory for transferring
is designd to deliver small portions of milliliter volumes of liquid, from less than 1 ml to up to 50 ml. The pipettes
a liquid or solution. These portions are can be sterile, plastic, and disposable or sterilizable, glass and reusable. Both
determined by recording the
kinds of pipettes use a pipet-aid, for the aspiration and dispensation of
difference between the initial and
final volume readings. liquids. Different sizes of pipettes can be used with the same pipet-aid for a
variety of experimental assays. For example, serological pipettes are useful
The Volumetric pipet has a single for mixing chemical solutions or cell suspensions, transferring liquids between
graduation that allows it to deliver receptacles, or carefully layering reagents of different densities. With careful
one specific volume accurately. There
are many different sizes of volumetric attention to the level of liquid being aspirated and dispensed, serological
pipets (1-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100- pipettes can be useful tools for transferring accurate milliliter volumes of
mL volumetric pipets are common). A solutions in the lab.
volumetric pipet is accurate at the
temperature at which it has been
calibrated. The temperature where
the volume is accurate is usually
printed on the neck of the pipet. If
you are working at a different
temperature, the volumetric pipet
should be calibrated.
VOLUME MEASUREMENTS
 HEATING DEVICES

Ovens
Electrically heated ovens are
commonly used in the
laboratory to remove water or
other solvents from chemical
samples and to dry laboratory
glassware. Never use
laboratory ovens for human
food preparation.
 HEATING DEVICES

Hot Plates
Laboratory hot plates are
normally used for heating
solutions to 100o C or above
when inherently safer steam
baths cannot be used.
 HEATING DEVICES
Bunsen Burner
The Bunsen burner is one of the most well-
known pieces of laboratory equipment found
within school science labs. It consists of a
mixing tube which is used to generate a
mixture of gas and air. Once lit, the intensity of
the flame can be varied by opening or closing
an adjustable air hole. Bunsen burners are
typically used to heat beakers of liquid in order
to induce chemical reactions. Bunsen burners
also pose disadvantages: They cannot control
the temperature as accurately as electronic Striker
heaters and using an open flame can be Used to light a Bunsen
dangerous.
burner.
 APPARATUS USED FOR HEATING
Clay Triangle Evaporating Dish Wire Gauze
Used to support a Used to heat liquids for Used to support a
crucible during evaporation. container, such as a
heating. Ring Clamp beaker, on a ring stand
Crucible Used with a ring stand to while it is being heated.
hold glassware, such as a May have a fiberglass or
Used for holding
chemicals during beaker or a funnel. ceramic center.
heating to very high Ring Stand Tripod Stand
temperatures. Used to hold or clamp A tripod stand is used to
Crucible Tongs laboratory glassware and support glassware, such
other equipment in place, as beakers and flasks,
Used to hold so it does not fall down or especially when heating
crucibles.
come apart. substances.
HEATING SET-UPS

IRON STAND
CRUCIBLE
CRUCIBLE
TONG

IRON RING
CLAY TRIANGLE
 APPARATUS USED FOR DISPENSING CHEMICALS

For liquids: pipette and pipette bulb, dropper

For solids: spatula , spoonula, spoon
 APPARATUS FOR GENERAL PURPOSE
Forceps Mortar and
Used to pick up Pestle
or hold small Used to crush
objects. and grind
Funnel materials.
Used to transfer
Stirring Rod
liquids or fine-
Used for stirring
grained materials
and mixing.
into containers
with small
openings. Also
used for
filtration.
 APPARATUS FOR GENERAL PURPOSE

Test Tube
Used to hold and mix liquids.
Test Tube Clamp
Used to hold a test tube,
particularly when hot.
Test Tube Rack
Used to hold several test
tubes at one time.
 APPARATUS FOR GENERAL PURPOSE
Thermometer (digital or alcohol, not
mercury)
Used to measure temperature in
Celsius.
Wash Bottle
Used to rinse pieces of glassware
and to add small quantities of water.
Watch Glass
Used to hold solids while they are
being weighed or to cover a beaker.
LINKS

You may watch the ff. links below on Youtube as your study guide in using
some of the common laboratory apparatus and equipments:
Weighing Using Analytical Balance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDgoJTgIL80
Techniques In Using Pipette
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DzybtC0Brk
Using the Buret
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFpFCPTDv2w
Heating Substances In a Test Tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hDrDXtanIU