Laboratory Apparatuses

By 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 Tripod is used to keep things
spread heat. 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#sli
de=1
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-triangular-file.htm
https://www.scribd.com/doc/57465131/Laboratory-Apparatus