Ch 1. Laboratory

Pipettes > Burettes/Volumetric Flasks > Graduate Cylinders > Beakers/Erlenmeyer Flasks

List glassware in order of measuring volume from most to least precise.

calorimetry

method used to measure the amount of heat energy that is released or absorbed during a chemical reaction; basic setup involves a Styrofoam cup and thermometer

beaker

a wide-mouthed vessel used to hold, heat, stir, or mix solutions; not an accurate measurement of volume

graduated cylinder

a thinner cylindrical tube used to measure a variety of volumes; more accurate than beakers, but not as accurate as volumetric flasks or burettes

erlenmeyer flask

a conical flask with a narrowed neck; used to swirl mixtures and for mixing, heating, and stirring solutions; it is also used in titrations and is not an accurate measurement of volume

volumetric flask

has a circular base with a long, thin neck; used commonly to create dilute solutions, and is a more accurate form of measurement

boiling flask

has a round bottom with a longer neck; used to swirl and heat solutions, but is not used for measuring volume; cannot stand up by itself

pipette

the most precise way of measuring volume; used to transfer a specific amount of volume and comes in a wide range of sizes

burette

long and graduated; used in titrations; used to dispense highly accurate volumes of liquid

test tube

small, glass tubes with rounded bottoms; hold small volumes and are used for mixing or comparing solutions; not used to measure volumes

dropper

small glass tubes with rubber bulbs at the end; used to dispense small amounts of liquid drop-wise

bunsen burner

connected to a gas source through rubber tubing to create a small flame; gas flow and airflow can both be controlled

pH meter

accurately measures the pH of a solution; needs to be calibrated before each use

digital balance

accurately measures the mass of a solid sample