UNIVERSAL SUPPORT: PARTS, USES, ATTACHMENTS - CHEMISTRY - 2024

The universal support is a metallic structure that can be used, as its name indicates, for multiple activities carried out in a laboratory. For example, it allows a person to perform a filtration without the need to hold onto the filter funnel.

In this way, the person who is filtering has his hands free to gradually add the suspension he is filtering to the funnel; in addition to being able to examine the progress of the process. So, the universal stand simplifies many of the activities that must be accomplished in a laboratory.

Universal holder, an indispensable instrument in laboratories. Source: real name: Nadina Wiórkiewiczpl.wiki: Nadine90commons: Nadine90

The universal support serves as a seat for titration of solutions; the decantation of solvents; the preparation of some solutions; the assembly of distillation equipment; the filtration of suspensions. As well as many activities that a person can devise based on their experience.

The universal support can fulfill the indicated functions due to the existence of attachments; such as double nuts, laboratory forceps, rings and buret forceps. It is practically an essential element in chemical tasks and for any type of assembly.

Parts

The universal bracket essentially consists of a base and a rod. Double nuts, laboratory clamps and metal rings are added to the rod, depending on the operation to be carried out and the glass materials used.

Base

The base is a rectangular, square or triangular structure, the rectangular being the most used. It is made of iron, covered by a paint that protects it from oxidation or corrosion caused by liquids or solids that may spill on it.

The base has four ridges or legs that allow it to rest on the surface of the countertops. It has a hole in the shape of a thread, in order to facilitate the threading of the rod of the universal support. The thread is usually located in the central part of one of the ends of the base.

The dimensions of the central base usually have length and width values ​​of 15 x 10 cm, 20 x 13 cm, 30 x 19 cm, and 34 x 22 cm, depending on the size of the rod of the universal support and the use to which it is intended the instrument.

Dipstick

It is a metal cylinder made of steel or aluminum, and that is screwed at one of its ends to the base, in such a way that the rod is totally vertical. The accessories of the universal support will be attached to this rod: the double nuts, the laboratory tweezers and the rings or rings.

Universal Mount Attachments

Double nuts

A nut attached to the rod of the universal bracket. Source: Cellsparkle

They are metallic structures with two concavities, each provided with screws that allow a concavity to join the rod; while the other concavity of the nut can serve as a connection to the rod at the free end of the laboratory forceps or the rings.

Laboratory Tweezers

One end is smooth cylindrical and is attached to the rod through the double nut, while the other end consists of some “claws”, the distance between which is controlled by the presence of a screw that determines the opening or closing of the clamp..

This end of the laboratory clamp serves to hold the glassware that will remain suspended thanks to the support. Among these materials we can mention: test tubes, separating funnels, graduated cylinders, condensers, titration burettes, Erlenmeyer flasks, etc.

The inner surface of the laboratory tweezers, for a better grip of glass articles, is covered with a rubbery material or similar in nature to cork.

Hoops

As their name indicates, they are shaped like a ring of different diameters. Attached to the ring is a cylindrical structure, which at the end of which is a bulge with a concavity, and a screw that serves to hold the ring to the rod of the universal support.

A steel grid is usually placed on the ring, which has an asbestos disk in its center, the mission of which is to prevent the flame from the lighter from hitting the balloon or Erlenmeyer flask that is heating up.

Applications

Degrees

The universal support can be used in the titration of an acid, a base or any substance whose concentration is desired. To do this, a buret attached to the universal holder is placed through a laboratory clamp or a buret clamp, and carefully filled using a funnel.

After placing the solution to be titrated in an Erlenmeyer flask, the solution contained in the burette is allowed to drip on it, observing the occurrence of the process through the use of a suitable indicator.

Solids dissolution

A beaker with a certain volume of water and the substance to be dissolved is placed on the grid of a ring attached to a universal support. At the same time, the solution is heated using a lighter, continuously stirring the solution with a glass stirrer until the substance dissolves.

Purification of a substance by decantation

A mixture of two or more solvents, together with the substance to be purified, is placed in a separatory funnel. This is closed by means of the ground glass stopper and shaken vigorously, placing the separatory funnel in the universal support through a laboratory clamp.

After allowing the separation of the solvents to have taken place, visualized by the interface that forms between them, the funnel tap is opened and the different fractions are collected for analysis.

Assembly of distillation equipment

The universal bracket can be used for the assembly of simple distillation equipment consisting of a burner, a flask for heating solutions, and glass connections that allow the use of a thermometer and a vapor condenser.

Filtration

A funnel fitted with filter paper is placed on a ring, dimensioned appropriately for the size of the funnel, and screwed onto the universal bracket. The suspension to be filtered is added to the funnel and the filtrate produced is collected in an Erlenmeyer flask or in a beaker.

References

1. Laboratory materials. (2019). Universal support. Recovered from: materialsdelaboratorio.pro
2. Wikipedia. (2019). Universal support. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org
3. Chemical lab. (2019). Universal laboratory support. Recovered from: tplaboratorioquimico.com
4. Of chemistry. (sf). Universal support. Recovered from: dequimica.com
5. Science lab. (sf). Universal support. Recovered from: kitlab.exa.unicen.edu.ar