Common Laboratory Equipment and Their Uses
Wondering about laboratory equipment and their uses, laboratory equipment are the devices that are used for various purposes in the lab from preparing the work area to getting the accurate result. These lab equipment are used by scientists, workers, students, and medical professionals. Read on to understand briefly. Following we’ve discussed various laboratory apparatus equipment and their uses for your better convenience.
Laboratory Equipment and Their Uses
Laboratory equipment is the instruments and devices used in the lab to carry out certain tasks including performing an experiment or measuring something and collecting data. Apart from that some scientific laboratory equipment is used to weigh material, mix and create a solution as well as clean containers.
Experiments need to be performed carefully to prevent injury. Hence it’s crucial to understand the name and purposes of laboratory equipment to ensure the safety of the experiment and precise result.
Most Common Laboratory Equipment and Their Uses
Microscope
The microscope is the most common laboratory equipment and their uses to examine an item that is too small for the human eye to see. A light microscope observes tiny objects using magnifying lenses and light while an electron microscope works through electrons to enlarge an image.
Test tube
It’s typically a lab vessel that is used to carry and mix various liquids and chemicals. The test tube comes in a finger shape with one open end. Though it comes in a variety of sizes, 18x 150 mm is the most common size.
Watch Glass
A watch glass is mostly found in a chemical laboratory and it’s a concave piece of glass. This laboratory Equipment and their uses to evaporate liquids, store solids, and heat tiny amounts of a substance.
Crucible
It’s a tiny container made of porcelain. The crucible is a worthwhile alternative to some lab glassware that is unsuitable for heating. It consists of a cover that can keep smoke particles inside.
Adjustment Knob and Scale
An adjustable knob is placed on the triple beam’s left side and helps get better accuracy during using balance. Conversely, the scale is placed on the right side of the scale and informs when the beams are at the resting position. It also notifies after finding the object’s right mass.
Volumetric Flasks
It is popular equipment for chemistry labs and a form of glassware calibrated to keep a specific amount of liquid at certain temperatures. In the chemistry lab, volumetric flasks are used for accurate dilutions and standard solutions. The volumetric flasks come in a variety of sizes and specific capacities. Considering how often you want to make solutions, you can choose a 50 ml to 1000 ml flask.
Beams and Riders
Triple beam balance has three different beams that function independently to asses the object’s mass. The weighted rider is located on each beam and used to determine the mass of the object while sliding along the beam.
The first beam, placed at the front is the lightest beam with a 10-gram scale and .01-gram rider. The next beam placed in the middle is the heaviest beam which has a 500-gram scale and 100-gram rider. The last beam placed in the back has the 100-gram scale and 10-gram rider.
Spatula
A lab spatula is the same as a kitchen spatula; however, it’s a bit smaller. It’s tiny and hand-held equipment that is used to scoop and transfer solids. A spatula is also used to apply paste-like treatments. Most spatulas are heat and acid-resistant, making them a safe choice for working with chemicals.
Magnifying Glass
A magnifying glass is used to create an object’s magnified image. This convex lens is covered with a handle-equipped frame.
Beakers
Like the test tube, beakers are used to mix, heat, and store various types of substances. It usually comes in cylindrical containers and has a flat base as well as a spout. It also comes in a variety of sizes.
Bunsen burner
The Bunsen burner is used to sterilize and heat various materials in the lab. It typically uses liquefied petroleum gas or Natural gas to complete the job.
Spring Balance
A spring balance or Newton meter consists of the tension of a spring on the scale that is used to calculate the weight of the object. It has a spring on one side and a hook on the other side.
Dropper
A dropper or a Pasteur pipette is a small glass with a rubber top on one end. It is usually used to offer one drop of liquid at a time.
Funnels
It’s another common laboratory device. The funnel is used to move chemicals into small-mouthed receptacles. It comes in various types including thistle, filter, and falling, and each type is intended for a unique purpose. Hirsch and Buchner are common chemistry lab equipment.
Wash Bottle
This squeeze container is used to clean and rinse various glassware. Most of the wash bottles are made of plastic. Depending on the work to handle, you can fill it with deionized water or ethanol.
Tongs
Laboratory workers and researchers need to expose heat, chemicals, and other harmful substances in the lab. In this case, tongs are handy lab equipment that can handle hot containers and hold harmful things. Tongs come in various types including utility, beaker, and crucible tongs and each item comes with a unique purpose.
Ammeter
Ammeters are mostly found in the physics laboratory and are used to gauge the amount of electricity that moves across a circuit.
Measuring Cylinder
This lab equipment is used to determine the liquid’s volume. The measuring cylinder is calibrated and marked that indicate the quantity of chemical used. This instrument is narrow and cylindrical.
Thermometer
Most people know about thermometers as it commonly used at home. A lab thermometer is almost similar to the typical one and is used to measure the temperature of various substances maintaining a high level of accuracy.
Burette
Burette is common chemistry lab equipment that is used to dispense the material’s volume. It’s usually used in titrations. It has a stopcock placed at the long-graded tube’s bottom. Some common sizes of burettes are 10ml, 25ml, and 50ml.
Balance
Some experiments demand accurate quantities of ingredients. Hence its a need to weigh the solid before use. A balancing device comes in handy in this situation. Top loading and analytical balances are the most popular types used in the lab.
Brushes For Test Tubes
Laboratories are incomplete without cleaning tools. Cleaning brushes are used to clean flasks, test tubes, and beakers.
Final Words
In the end, you should now understand laboratory equipment and their uses. While some lab equipment mixes and carries the liquids, other ensures optimum safety and efficiency of the operation. To have a well-equipped laboratory, you should have a complete set of equipment in every category to get an accurate result.
