Measuring equipment is vital for any laboratory and industrial for precise and safe measurement and holding of liquids. The laboratory equipment for measuring comes in a wide range of size and shapes as well as serves unique purposes.
So if you prefer a well-equipped lab, you should have clear knowledge about the measurement equipment used in the lab which you can get simply by reading the article.
List Of Laboratory Equipment For Measuring and Measurement
There is a wide range of shapes and sizes of glassware available in the laboratory. While some of them use to hold and store liquids or pour, some are used to measure. Following are some of the measurement glassware used in the lab:
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Erlenmeyer Flasks
The Erlenmeyer flasks have a thin and cylindrical neck, conical bases, and flat bottoms. This lab equipment is used for heating and mixing solutions. These measurement tools are usually made of borosilicate glass which allows them to heat at high temperatures without breaking down.
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Graduated Cylinders
Like the beakers, this lab equipment comes in a tall and cylindrical shape with a spout for easier pouring. The graduated cylinder has hash marks on the side to measure various liquids properly and efficiently. Even the graduated cylinders are common equipment for the most lab. The graduated cylinder comes in a wide range of sizes and its volume ranges from 10ml to 1000ml.
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Burettes
Like the previous measurement lab equipment, the burettes are also narrow, long glass tubes and contain hash marks for easier measurement.
In addition, this measurement tool has one tapered end to provide accurate liquid measurement while controlling the liquid flow in titrations using its stopcock.
Its stopcock can also be turned to flow a small amount of liquid into the tube. The burettes are usually used to measure a wide range of solutions precisely. It also uses for titration and blending one reactant until achieving an accurate reaction.
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Pipettes
This measuring equipment is used to get the required tiny amount of liquids. The pipettes are narrow, long glass tube that has tapered ends and bulb in the middle.
This glassware also has a hash mark to monitor during filling. Lab operators use a tiny rubber bulb to put liquid into the tube and move to another mixture or container.
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Florence Flasks
This lab equipment has a long neck over a round bulb and flat bottom and is made of borosilicate glass. As a result, Florence flasks can endure heating.
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Beakers
It’s a cylindrical glass container that has a spout and rolled lip. The beaker is a versatile lab and is available in the most labs. This piece of lab equipment is typically used for a wide range of purposes including heating solutions over a bunsen burner and creating chemical reactions. The beakers also have measurements marked on their side for accurate measurement of the liquids.
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Volumetric Flasks
The volumetric flask is also known as a dewar flask and has a narrow, long neck. This lab equipment also has a round bulb and a flat bottom.
To help get accurate measurements at certain temperatures, the volumetric flask comes with a printed hash mark on its side. The instrument is also calibrated to hold precise volume at a specific temperature. it is usually used for accurate dilutions to prepare various solutions.
Among two different types of pipettes, the serological pipettes are used to move around 1 ml to 50 ml liquid. It can be made of disposable pipettes, plastic, or reusable glass and used to transfer liquids, mix cell suspensions, or chemical solutions.
The other type is volumetric pipettes that have a gradation design for one precise measurement. This measurement tool also comes in a wide range of sizes and volumes ranging from 1ml to 100ml. It has a full liquid level marking line and precision and heat estimation.
Apart from the glass, the other measuring equipment used in labs are:
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Dataloggers
This lab equipment allows for the measurement and storage of data on almost any physical parameter including humidity, pressure, temperature, flow, velocity, and power.
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Boroscope
It’s a highly flexible camera that can reach into concealed places to determine any faults.
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Dissolved oxygen meter
This instrument is used to measure the amount of oxygen in the dissolved form of water. it’s helpful equipment to check the oxygen supply system’s integrity for biological activity in sewage facilities or reactors.
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PH Meter
This instrument is used to measure the alkalinity or acidity of a solution. Its measurement ranges from 0 to 14 where the lower the number, the better the acidity level.
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Pressure Meters
This lab equipment is intended to measure gas or water pressure in airtight containers or pipes.
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Thermometers
The thermometer is versatile equipment and is used in almost any field including industrial, home and laboratory use. This device helps detect or measure temperature change in the human body and monitor the quick change. The other use thermometers in the electrical industry, plumbing, the human body, etc.
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Conductivity meter
The conductivity meter measures the conductivity or electric current in a solution. it also uses to measure the natural water body’s health status and is a helpful tool in the field of water.
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Microsyringes
The microsyringe is used to distribute the liquid in small volumes. It consists of a needle attached to a scaled glass cylinder along with a piston. The diameters of the piston and needle vary from model to model. This equipment is used in a range of fields including biology, chemistry, research, medicine, and biotechnology. Below are some of the applications of microsyringes:
- In the chemistry lab, the microsyringe help prepares solutions, measure accurate reagent volumes, and perform titrations.
- In medicine and biology labs, microsyringes help handle tiny volumes of biological samples including urine or blood. It also helps dispense an accurate volume of reagents in research experiments or diagnostic tests.
- In biotechnology, this equipment is used to handle and dispense reagents and samples in molecular biology, protein chemistry, and cell culture.
- In forensic science, this device uses to collect and analyze samples of DNA, blood, or other biological material.
- In the pharmaceutical industry, microsyringes use to get precise measure small amounts of drugs and other chemicals during performing manufacturing process.
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Piston dispensers
This equipment consists of a piston and scale attached to a flask. The piston dispensers are typically intended for repeated dispensing the equal amount from the supplied pot.
In addition, the dispenser uses to measure hostile liquid that is made of borosilicate glass which is typically a plastic component. This lab equipment is used in a wide range of industries for dispensing various fluids and viscous materials. The following are some common uses of piston dispensers:
- In the pharmaceutical industry, it used is to dispense an accurate amount of medicine and various liquid medications.
- In the cosmetics industry, this equipment uses to dispense creams, lotions, and various personal care products.
- In the food and beverage industry, the piston dispenser is used to dispense sauces, condiments, and lots of food products.
- In industry, this equipment is used to dispense lubricants, adhesives, and various industrial fluids.
- In the laboratory industry, this equipment is used to dispense a little number of chemicals and liquids.
- In the home and gardens, the piston dispensers use to dispense lubricants, cleaning solutions, and gardening fertilizer.
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Steps to Measure Volume
Use clean and dry equipment to move liquid.
Carefully check the temperature. Usually, the lab area has around 20 degrees C. Place the measuring device in the precise line and make sure the meniscus’s lowest curve hit the lie when observing at the eye-level.
These steps will help you get an exact measurement. Remember, using volumetric glassware will give you desired deviation on the glassware side.
Sources of Mistake When Measuring Volume
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Dirty Glassware
Using clean and dry glassware is the foremost step to getting a precise measurement. Film, dirt, or grease can prevent liquid from measuring perfectly. Hence you can have more or less measurement than desired. Some make your labware residue-free and dry before using them.
An effective way to remove fluid residue is to rinse the glassware a couple of times using a suitable solvent.
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Meniscus Miscalculation
Keep the liquid level exactly at the full level hash mark during filling your volumetric flask or pipette to a specific volume. Typically, the liquid isn’t flat and has a little bit curved surface which can mislead the eye. Hence it’s crucial to inspect the calibration mark using the flask on a level surface at eye level to get a precise measurement. It’ll also help measure the meniscus bottom at the curve’s lowest part.
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Wrong Temperature
Typically, volumetric flasks are marked with temperature, volume, and precise readings. This mark prefers the delivery and informs accurately how much it’ll be dispensed after measuring the liquid that clings to the inside.
It’s usually measured in Celsius and delivers precise measurement. In addition, it’s vital to meet the conditions marked on the volumetric device’s side to get a precise result.
Final words
As you can see, there is plenty of laboratory equipment for measuring that varies in type, design, and usage. After having basic information on various measuring equipment, the next thing you should consider is cost.
The laboratory equipment for measuring can cost up to $10,000. However, you can talk with some consultation to get a cost-effective solution to cut expenses and save money on the overall budget.