Biology Laboratory Equipment

A biology laboratory in a school or college helps explore biological aspects of nature, plants and animals cells and tissues, visualize important organs, and many more using various equipment. so whether you are planning to open a new biology lab or enlarge the existing lab, you should have a clear knowledge of its equipment. 

Hence we’ve listed the 20 most common yet helpful laboratory equipment biology along with the smart ideas of collecting to help you establish the lab efficiently

Biology Laboratory Equipment

Below are some major lab equipment used at a biology lab:

• Microscope

A microscope is a basic yet helpful piece of equipment in the biology lab of most schools and colleges. It’s mostly used to observe small objects and specimens at the cellular level. Microscopes also help to examine the cell’s shape and structure to differentiate various cell parts from each other, find out certain functions and identify the microorganism’s prime characteristics. 

This biology lab equipment is also used to study different types of bacteria, pathogens, and viruses. As a result microbiologists and scientists can learn about nature and discover a cure for the disease. 

• Test Tubes

A test tube is (culture tube or sample tube) a plastic or glass container it contains a hemispherical base. The test tube’s shape is similar to the human finger’s shape. It’s mainly used to hold, blend and heat chemical substances and solutions. 

• Magnifying Glass

The magnifying glass is made of a convex lens fixed in a circular metallic loop and connected to a wooden or metallic handle. 

The main reason for using a magnifying glass is to get an enlarged image of an object placed under it. it is also used to study the substance’s fine details. This biology laboratory equipment also focuses the radiations falling on its outside to a single point. 

• Beaker

Beaker is a type of cylindrical container and it has a flat base and a small spout at the top to pour solutions with minimum spillage. It comes in lots of shapes. Beakers are mostly used to store solutions. 

Beakers are also used to perform the titration process along with the burette. Some beakers also include a graduated scale attached to note the solution’s quantity. 

• Crucible

Crucible is made of metal or ceramic and withstand high temperatures. Hence scientists use it to melt elements. The most common use of crucibles is to perform gravimetric chemical analysis. 

• Filter Paper

The filter paper mainly uses to separate the substance’s fine particles from the gases or liquids. The filter paper’s pores let the gas and liquid molecules move through it efficiently but block the solid particles. 

• Dropper

Dropper is usually made of a glass tube and has a small opening and vacuum rubber bulb. It is used to control the solution’s amount needed to add to a reaction. Need to press the vacuum bulb and dip the dropper’s open tip into the container to fill it with a solution. 

However, it needs to immerse the dropper into the solution properly. Some medical laboratories also use droppers as medicine droppers.

• Bunsen burner

Bunsen burner generates a single open gas flame that use to perform various chemical reactions and experiments. It is also important lab equipment used to do various physical phenomena like melting, boiling, heating, combustion, and sterilization.  

• Flask

Flask comes in various shapes and sizes and may consist of conical, curved, or flat structures along with a flat base connected to a cylindrical top. This lab equipment can be either made of plastic or glass and used to keep the solutions safe or mix titration and fluids. Some flask also comes with a graduated scale to help record how many solutions are poured into them. 

• Thermometer

It’s one of the crucial biology lab equipment that is used to determine the object’s current temperature. The thermometer comes in a wide variety of types including differential, mechanical, and logging thermometers. Compared to typical and clinical thermometers, lab thermometers deliver a higher level of accuracy. 

In addition, clinical thermometers can’t be used for laboratory or industrial purposes as they can cause a major loss in the result’s accuracy. The thermometer also helps monitor the experiment’s progress, testing materials, doing instrument calibration, and maintaining the proper environment of the sterile work.

• Brush

The brush is mainly used in biology laboratories to clean objects, particularly those that have narrower openings like flasks and test tubes. 

• Spatula 

Spatula is another common laboratory equipment used in a biology lab to mix or stir into substances or scrap objects. It comes in a spoon shape and can be made of carbon steel, stainless steel, and porcelain. Some spatula also comes with an insulator handle to deliver a firm grip to the user to avoid injuries. 

• Spring Balance

A spring balance is typically made of a graduated scale and hook. The spring balance’s working and inner mechanical arrangement depend on the spring action of metals. After attaching the load to the spring balance’s hook, the hook shifted from the original position to the downward direction because of gravity. At a time, the graduated scale shows the object’s weight. 

• Weighing Machine

Scientists or biologists use laboratory equipment to determine various objects’ weights. Weighing machines are typically electronically powered and come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. These biology lab equipment are also portable and compact and allow choosing the weighing capacity based on need.

• Crucible Tongs

It’s highly difficult and risky to pick or lift hot objects directly using the hand and can cause serious injury. Hence many people use a tong to lift and grip hot objects. The tong is common laboratory equipment that is typically made of metal and comes in a scissors shape. 

However, compared to the straight and sharp edge of the blade of scissors, the tong has a curved and blunt blade. tongs also come in plenty of sizes and shapes including beakers, heated crucibles, flasks, or dishes. 

• Burette

 A burette is another common biology lab equipment that use to perform a titration. It’s a long glass tube and has a curved body with a graduated scale. The burette also has a nozzle at the end to allow to dispense of the solution and an open end to discharge the solution. 

To control the solution’s pouring flow, this lab equipment has a valve or tap connected to the base. The burette is used in biology and chemistry laboratories to dispense the liquid with optimum control.

• Pipette

Scientist or biologist uses a pipette to transport the measured liquid to a pot or container. It’s a glass tube and has a broad in the middle and a narrow end. It also has a mark at the top portion to understand the exact amount of liquid contained by it. the pipette comes in a wide range of sizes to allow to transfer of the required volume of liquid efficiently. 

• Wash Bottles

Wash bottles are usually made of LDPE material and used to rinse laboratory glassware. The laboratory wash bottles are quite flexible and help adjust the water pressure easily based on the needs.

• Funnel

A funnel is mainly used to direct the liquid flow in a certain direction. Without using a funnel, there is a risk of spilling the solution during pouring. This biology lab equipment consists of a cone connected to a cylinder and is typically made of porcelain, glass, or plastic. A funnel also uses to detach two immiscible solutions of different densities.

• Watch Glass

It’s a circular concave glass that is used to dissolve a liquid in a biology laboratory. The watch glass is also used to hold specimens to be weighted or studied or heat substance.

Approximate Cost of Opening a Biology Lab

In general, it cost around $50k to a few million dollars to open a biology laboratory. However, the exact cost depends on plenty of factors including the type of lab, the location, and the equipment you need. Luckily there are some helpful ways to rise money and keep the investment low. 

Generally, the majority of the budget needs to invest in the lab space and the required equipment. Hence plenty of things depend on the lab’s location and the condition of the equipment whether it is new, used, or leased. Other things to consider are the staff salary and the utilities that aren’t comprised in the facility rent. 

Thing to Consider Before Starting to Collect Biology Lab Equipment

The following are three different ways to collect biology lab equipment:

• Buying New Equipment

Buying new biology laboratory equipment requires a higher budget. however, it ensures that you have top-class equipment in the lab. In addition, purchasing new biology lab equipment reduces the risk of breakdown, maintenance and require costs in the future. 

• Buying Used Equipment

Purchasing used equipment saves a large amount of money compared to new equipment. However, it also costs maintenance and repair. in addition, if your used equipment starts malfunctioning right after buying, it’ll cost more money than a new one in the end. And it brings a higher risk for a biology laboratory on a budget. 

• Leasing 

Leasing equipment eliminates the need of investing lots of money at a time during starting a lab. The repair and maintenance are also included in the lease cost. Hence it’s a far more economical option. in addition, leasing lab equipment can help spread out the payments over time and preserve the budget for the related operational requirements. 

You can decide between leasing the latest or manufacturing refurbished equipment whereas the second option is far more economical. 

Final Words

Starting a biology laboratory require plenty of equipment based on the type and number of experiment you want to perform on it. Throughout the article, we’ve discussed the most common yet handy laboratory equipment required for starting a lab. Hope this piece of information gives you enough idea for listing the equipment along with the usages and applications.