BIOL LABORATORY EQUIPMENTS

REVIEWER

Microscope

is one of the **most common** apparatus used in biology laboratories. It is mainly used to **magnify small objects.** To observe a specimen at the cellular level, a sample is taken and studied at the micro-level with the help of a _________. It also helps to observe the shape and structure of a cell, distinguish various parts of a cell from each other, identify their particular functions, and determine the prime characteristics of microorganisms

Beaker

is a cylindrical container that has a **small spout** and a **flat base**. The small spout helps to pour solutions with minimum spillage. it comes in a variety of shapes. Mostly, they are used to **contain and store** solutions. They are also used in combination with a burette to perform the titration process.

Crucible

is a small container made up of **ceramic or metal**. it is able to withstand high temperatures, and therefore, it is generally used to melt elements. One of the most common applications of _______ lies in gravimetric chemical analysis.

Test Tubes

is a glass or plastic container that has a hemispherical base. The shape of a __________ is analogous to the shape of a **human finger.** Its main purpose is to **hold, mix, and heat** chemical substances and solutions. it is also known as a sample tube or a culture tube.

Magnifying Glass

is yet another most commonly used laboratory equipment. It consists of a convex lens fixed within a **circular metallic** loop and is attached to a metallic or wooden handle. its main purpose is that provides an **enlarged image** of the object placed beneath it. it is preferred when it is required to study the fine details of a substance. it is also able to focus the radiation falling on its surface to a single point.

Bunsen Burner

is one of the most important laboratory instruments. It is named after German chemist *Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen*. It is a **gas burner** that produces a single open gas flame. A number of chemical reactions take place in the presence of fire. it acts as a source of heat to perform such experiments and reactions. It is also used to perform physical phenomena such as heating, boiling, melting, sterilization, and combustion. Gases such as liquified petroleum gas, propane, butane, natural gas, etc., can be used as fuel for the __________.

Flask

used in laboratories are available in a **variety of shapes** and sizes. They can have a curved, conical, or flat structure with a flat base attached to a cylindrical top. ___are generally made up of glass or plastic and are used to **store** the solutions. Other uses of a ____ with a graduated scale to keep a record of the amount of solution poured into it

Filter Paper

usually made up of cotton fibers. The key component used in the manufacturing of ______ is cellulose. Its main purpose is to **separate fine particles** of substances from liquids or gases. The pores of the _______ are fine enough to allow the liquid and gas molecules to pass through it easily but act as a barrier to solid particles, thereby blocking and capturing them.

Dropper

It consists of a glass tube that has a **small opening at one end** and is attached to a vacuum **rubber bulb** at the other end. It is used when it is required to **control the amoun**t of solution being added to a reaction. it is also used as a medicine dropper.

Thermometer

is one of the most crucial laboratory equipment. These are the sensing devices that are used to determine the current **temperature** of an object. Different types of ________ used in laboratories include mechanical, differential, and logging ______. it has a high level of precision as compared to clinical or general thermometers.

Weighing Machine

is used to determine the **mass or weight** of certain objects. Most of the ______ used in laboratories are electronically powered. These machines come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It is used in laboratories that are compact and portable.

Crucible Tongs

Lifting or picking up hot objects directly with hands is difficult, risky, and may cause severe injuries, which is why _____ are used to **grip and lift** such objects. these are metallic scissors-shaped laboratory instruments. The only difference is that the blades of tongs are blunt and curved, while the blades of scissors have a sharp edge and are straight. They are available in a variety of shapes and sizes to pick different objects such as heated crucibles, beakers, dishes, or flasks.

Brush

The main task of a _____ is to **clean objects**. it is specifically designed to clean instruments that have a narrow openings such as test tubes, flasks, etc.

spatula

is a laboratory utensil mainly used for **mixing** substances into a solution, stirring the solution, and scrapping objects. It is shaped like a spoon and is generally made up of carbon steel, stainless steel, porcelain, etc. It also consists of an insulator handle that allows the user to have a firm grip and avoid injuries.

Spring Balance

is yet another measuring instrument used in most laboratories. It consists of a **hook and a graduated scale**. The graduated scale then displays the weight of the object.

Wash Bottles

are bottles attached with a **nozzle** typically made up of LDPE material. These bottles are mainly used to rinse various laboratory glassware. The material used for the manufacturing of laboratory wash bottles is flexible in nature which allows the user to adjust the water pressure as per the need by squeezing the bottle accordingly.

Burette

it is one of the most common laboratory equipment used in chemistry and biology laboratories to perform titration. it is a **long glass tube** that consists of a graduated scale attached to its curved body, a nozzle at one end to dispense solution, an open end to pour the solution, and a tap or a valve attached to the base that is used to control the flow of the solution. The main purpose of it is to dispense the liquid in a controlled manner.

Pipette

is a glass tube commonly used to **transport** a measured amount of liquid to a container. it is designed in such a way that it is broad in the middle and consists of narrow ends. A mark present at the top portion of the _______ indicates the amount of liquid contained by it. it is available in a number of sizes; therefore, different _____ are used to **transfer** different volumes of liquid.

Funnel

is to channel or direct the **flow of liquid** in a particular direction. In the absence of a _____, there may be chances of **spilling** the solution in the surroundings. The structure of a ____ resembles a cone attached to a cylinder. The materials generally used to construct a _____ include glass, porcelain, plastic, etc. it is also used to separate two immiscible solutions of different densities.

watch glass

is a **circular** piece of concave glass that is used to evaporate a liquid, hold a specimen to be studied or weighed, cover a beaker, heat a small amount of substance, etc.

Litmus Paper

is a special type of paper made up of wood cellulose infused with ______, which is a water-soluble mixture of different dyes extracted from lichens. These papers used in laboratories are typically cut in the shape of strips and are used as a **pH indicato**rs. Its main function is to **determine** whether the given solution is acidic or basic.

Safety Apparatus Kit

is the most common apparatus found in almost all types of laboratories. Various **safety equipment** present in a safety apparatus kit includes safety goggles, gloves, lab coats, etc. They protect the scientists working in the laboratory from severe injuries and help to prevent mishaps and accidents.

Dissecting Tool Kit

is one of the most important apparatus used in biology laboratories. It is used to **dissect** animals such as frogs, fetal pigs, mice, etc. It consists of all the necessary tools required to carry out the process of dissection such as a catheter, groove probe, scalpel, surgical scissors (straight and curved), mayo scissors (straight and curved), dissecting forceps (with and without teeth), dissecting pin, etc.

hot plate

is a device that consists of a **flat** plate attached to an electronic heating mechanism. its main purpose is to evenly **heat** a substance or sample placed on the top of it. The advantage of using it in place of a bunsen burner is that a ____ does not make use of flammable fuel, thereby minimizing the chances of accidents.

Forceps

are tweezers, typically made up of metals, which are used to hold or **pick up small objects**. They are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. It consists of two tapered strips of metals attached to each other at one end. The angle between the two strips is maintained in such a way that when a force is applied to the middle portion of _____, it gets squeezed and grips the object present in the middle of the open edges. The edges of the _____ can either be pointed or flat.

Evaporating Dish

is one of the prime apparatuses used in a laboratory. It is a small and shallow utensil that has a pinched lip to pour the liquids properly. The materials used to manufacture an _____ generally include porcelain, ceramic, glass, or silicon. It is mainly used for small-scale **separation** of solute from solution through the physical process of crystallization. For this purpose, the solution is poured into the _____, the solvent gets **evaporated**, thereby concentrating the solution.

Graduated Cylinders

is a common laboratory instrument that is used to **measure** the amount of solution poured into it. it is a hollow glass cylinder with a flat base and a graduated scale attached to its curved boundary.

Dissecting Pans

or **trays** are one of the most essential types of equipment required at a biology laboratory. While analyzing the internal structure of an organism or a specimen, it is used to **hold the sample** and allows the scientist to study the characteristics of the sample with clarity. they are typically made up of **aluminum** and consist of a layer of paraffin wax. They also include odor-absorbent pads to lock in the foul smell.

Coverslips

are the small square or **circle**-**shaped** thin glass sheets that are used to **cover** the specimens that are under observation. It is also used to protect the microscope and prevent the slide from drying by locking the moisture. The placement of _____ on the sample should be done with utmost care in such a way that air bubbles do not get trapped under the glass sheet.

Inoculating Loops

are made up of platinum or nichrome wire. The tip of such a wire is shaped like a small loop that is about 5 mm in diameter. The main purpose is to pick up, separate, and transfer small pieces of a sample from a culture of microorganisms. it is also known as a **smear** loop, inoculation wand, or microstreaker. They are available in both disposable or reusable forms.

Petri Dishes

is a shallow, transparent, **cylinder-shaped lidded dish**. is mainly used to a culture different types of cells including bacteria, fungi, molds, etc. It is mainly made up of glass or plastic and consists of a thin layer of agar that provides a nutritional medium in which the cells can grow.

Centrifuge Machine

is a laboratory device that is mainly used to separate fluids (gases and liquids) on the basis of their density. mainly works on the basis of **spinning**. It consists of a vessel that spins at a high speed. The material poured into the spinning vessel experiences a significant amount of centrifugal force that pushes heavy substances to the outer side, leaving the light particles in the middle of the vessel. The heavy and light substances, therefore, get **separated**.

Scoopula

used in most biology laboratories, is quite similar to that of a spatula. These are the long metallic strips that have a curved structure. are mainly used to scoop and transfer solids to a weigh paper, a watch glass, a graduated cylinder, a flask, or a coverslip.

Magnetic sir bar

Used in conjuction with a stirring plate

Test tube rack

Used to hold test tubes while reactions happen in them or while they are not needed

mortar and pestle

Used to crush solids into powder for experiments, usually to better dissolve the solids

Glass rod

stirring rod or stir rod is a piece of laboratory equipment used to mix chemicals and liquids for laboratory purposes. They are usually made of solid glass, about the thickness and slightly longer than a drinking straw, with rounded ends.

test tube holder

is used to hold test tubes. It is used for holding a test tube in place when the tube is hot or should not be touched. Test tube racks are laboratory equipment used to hold upright multiple test tubes at the same time.

Wing top

used to bend glass as it spread out the heat over a larger area, making it more uniform. A porcelain spatula is used in laboratory applications where scratching delicate surfaces is undesired as well as scooping up small quantities of powder.

Safety Goggles

These are **tight-fitting eye protection** that completely covers the eyes and provides protection from chemical splashes, impact, and dust. they are routinely used for **protection** against chemical splash hazards, the use of concentrated corrosive material, and bulk chemical transfer.

Erlenmeyer flasks

are used to contain liquids and for mixing, heating, cooling, incubation, filtration, storage, and other liquid-handling processes. Their slanted sides and narrow necks allow the contents to be mixed by swirling without the risk of spills, which is helpful for titrations and boiling liquids.