22 CHEMISTRY LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS - CHEMISTRY - 2024

There are different instruments in a chemistry lab, and each of these is used for a specific purpose. Some are intended to ensure the safety of researchers, such is the case of safety tweezers and laboratory goggles.

Other laboratory materials are measuring; Some, like the graduated cylinder and the volumetric flask, allow the measurement of volumes of liquids. In addition, the graduated cylinder is used to measure the volume of irregular solids. Liquids can also be measured with the beaker, although these instruments are not very accurate. With balances, various objects can be weighed.

You can also find other devices that allow you to transport substances, observe and store samples. Some examples of these are the slide (which holds samples for the microscope), the Petri dish (which allows microorganism cultures to grow and store), the funnel (to transfer substances from one container to another), the dropper (which transports from drop by drop) and the pipette (which allows to transport precise volumes of substances).

Another group of instruments are used to heat substances. Some of these are the volumetric flask, the Erlenmeyer flask, the beaker, the combustion spoon, the watch glass, and the test tubes.

List of main chemistry laboratory instruments

In most chemistry labs, you can find the same basic instruments. Below are some of them.

1- Beaker

The beaker is a cylindrical container with a wide mouth. Their measurements vary: you can find beakers 10 cm high by 6 cm in diameter, 15 cm high by 9 cm in diameter, among others.

This instrument has various functions in a laboratory. It is used as a container for substances to be used in the near future. It is also used to mix and beat. Because they are heat resistant, they can be used to heat compounds.

The beakers have a kind of spout on one of their edges, which allows substances to be poured into other containers without risking spillage.

They also feature a measuring system, which allows volumes and liquids to be measured. However, they are not very accurate when it comes to measuring liquids, so the use of other instruments is preferred.

2- Erlenmeyer flask

The Erlenmeyer flask consists of a narrow neck that expands conically to the bottom. The shape of this instrument allows substances to be beaten and mixed without risking spillage.

Due to the narrowness of the neck, it can also be fitted with a cork or rubber stopper if necessary for the experiment being carried out.

This flask is heat resistant, so substances can be heated in it. However, it should not be heated with a cap on, as the pressure created by the heat could cause an explosion.

Features measurement marks on the side. These are for making estimates and not for making precise measurements.

3- Watch glass

Watch glass is a multi-sized piece of glass that is slightly concave. This instrument is used to hold small amounts of liquids or solids.

They are usually used to evaporate substances and to carry out small combustion reactions.

They are also used to cover the beakers, since the latter are not sold with lids.

4- Test tube

Test tubes are cylindrical and narrow instruments. These have one end open and the other closed in a rounded shape. These are used to hold small samples. These samples are generally intended to be compared.

They are made in heat resistant glass, so samples can be heated. Some come with rubber stoppers. As with the Erlenmeyer flask, substances cannot be heated when the cap is on.

5- Funnel

The funnels used in laboratories are the same as the funnels used in other contexts (such as cooking, for example).

These have two ends, one wide and one narrow, which meet in a conical shape. Its function is to transfer substances from one container to another safely.

There are plastic and glass funnels. These are used taking into account the substances to be transferred.

There are also funnels with mouths wider than others, which are used taking into account the amount of substance to be transferred and the speed with which it is desired to transfer it.

6- Graduated cylinder

The graduated cylinder is one of the main tools for measuring the volume of liquids. Unlike the instruments mentioned above, the graduated cylinder is accurate.

As its name implies, it has a cylindrical shape and is elongated. It has a series of marks from the base to the top, which facilitate measurement.

It is also equipped with a kind of spout on its edge, making it easy to pour substances without spilling once they have been measured.

They come in different sizes. It should be noted that the smaller the diameter of the instrument, the more accurate it will be.

With regard to volume measurement, it will be noted that liquids have a curvature: the liquid at the edges is observed higher than the liquid in the center. This is called the meniscus. This point is the one that will be taken into account to carry out the measurement.

To measure the volume of a solid, simply pour a quantity of liquid into the cylinder and take its measurement.

Then the solid must be introduced into the graduated cylinder and the new measurement taken. The difference between the second and the first measurement will be the volume of the solid.

7- Pipette

Pipettes are long, thin, cylindrical instruments. They are used to measure the exact volume of liquids and to transport the measured quantities to other containers.

8- Thermometer

The thermometer is used to measure temperatures. Some thermometers are made of heat resistant materials. These can be heated together with other substances to observe the variation in temperatures as they heat up.

Others are used to measure the ambient temperature. In general, these are larger than the previous ones. They are found in the following measurement systems: ° C (degrees Celsius), ° F (degrees Fahrenheit) and ° K (degrees Kelvin).

9- Bunsen burner

The Bunsen burner is an instrument used to heat substances and produce combustion reactions. At the base of the lighter is a gas supply (usually propane or butane).

This base is followed by an elongated cylinder with small holes that allow air to enter. The upper end of the cylinder is open and allows the gas to escape which ignites when it comes into contact with an ignition spark.

At the base of the cylinder, there is a valve that allows the gas flow to be opened and closed and the size of the flame adjusted.

10- Spatula

The spatula is a utensil made up of a sheet (metal or plastic) and a handle. It is used to detach substances that may have adhered to other instruments.

11- Balance

The balance is used to measure the weight of substances. There are several types, from electric to manual (in which you have to move weights placed on one arm to reach the correct number).

12- Test tube

The cylinder is similar to the pipette in that it is cylindrical, long and has measurement marks. It differs from these instruments because it is thicker. Its function is to measure volumes of liquids.

13- Mortar

The mortar is an instrument that is made of wood, ceramic or plastic. This consists of two pieces: a pot and a mallet. It is used to crush solid substances.

14- Pliers

Pliers are long instruments, made of metal and covered in insulating material. These are used to hold instruments when they have been heated, protecting the safety of those who carry out the experiment.

There are different types of pliers according to the function they must perform. For example, pliers for holding test tubes have two semi-circular frames at their ends.

These structures are equipped with a serrated surface that prevents the tubes from spilling.

15- Grid

The grid is an instrument made of metal, wood or plastic. It contains various hollow spaces that are intended to hold test tubes.

In this way, the tubes are kept in a vertical position, preventing them from rolling and splitting or spilling the samples they contain.

16- Volumetric flask

The volumetric flask is a container with a high and long neck that ends in a container with a rounded shape. It has a flat bottom, so it can stand on its own. It has a lid that prevents liquids from spilling.

It is used to measure the exact volume of a liquid thanks to a series of measurements that are presented on the neck. Substances whose temperature fluctuates should not be measured, as temperature affects volume.

17- Microscope

The microscope is used to look at organisms and objects that are very small in dimensions. They feature magnifying lenses of different caliber, a light source that optimizes vision and a plate to hold the sample to be observed.

18- Slides

The slide is a rectangular shaped glass plate. They are small in size (for example, 6 cm long x 3 cm wide). These are used to hold samples to be studied under a microscope.

When working with the microscope, generally two slides are used, a base and a cover slide, to prevent the sample from spilling out of the glass plate and to keep it in a firm position.

19- Petri Capsule

The Petri dish is a transparent instrument, which can be made of plastic or glass. These capsules resemble a shallow plate and feature a lid.

The main function of this instrument is to provide a space for the growth of microorganism cultures (usually viruses and bacteria). For this, an environment is created within the capsule that allows the development of individuals.

The fact that they have a lid prevents the cultures from being contaminated with external agents, which is an advantage when compared to other instruments that were previously used for the same purpose (such as test tubes).

Other of its functions are to transport substances, serve as a container for samples, provide a space for the germination of seeds, among others.

20- Combustion spoon

The combustion spoon is an instrument with a long, thin handle, measuring between 25 and 30 cm. This handle is covered with insulating material.

At the end of the handle, there is a small cup that generally does not exceed 2 cm in diameter. In this spoon, substances are placed that are intended to be heated.

The function of these spoons is to intervene in combustion reactions (hence their name), in which substances are heated to high temperatures.

Also, these spoons allow the heated substances to be transported and deposited directly into other containers, even if they are narrow like the graduated cylinder.

21- Dropper

Droppers are glass or plastic tubes. At one end, they have small openings and at the other end they have a rubber device that allows liquids to be sucked in and released in small quantities.

Some have markings that indicate the amount of fluid sucked in. This is dispensable since the true measure of these instruments is the drop.

22- Safety glasses

Safety glasses are one of the most important instruments in a laboratory as they allow the researcher to secure his eyes.

The fact of not wearing glasses represents a danger, since when working with reactions there is the risk of irritating the eyes, of suffering temporary or permanent blindness if an accident occurs.

References

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6. Volumetric Flask. Retrieved on September 11, 2017, from wikipedia.org
7. Deflagrating spoon. Retrieved on September 11, 2017, from merriam-webster.com
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