Laboratory Apparatus

A comprehensive list of 50 common laboratory apparatuses and their primary functions used in scientific experiments.

Graduated cylinder

Measures the volume of liquids accurately.

Beaker

Holds, mixes, and heats liquids; provides rough volume measurements.

Erlenmeyer flask

Mixes and heats solutions without spilling; used for titrations.

Volumetric flask

Prepares solutions with a precise volume.

Florence flask

Heats and boils liquids evenly.

Distilling flask

Separates liquids by distillation.

Test tube

Holds, mixes, or heats small amounts of substances.

Test tube holder

Holds a test tube while heating or when hot.

Test tube rack

Holds and organizes test tubes upright.

Test tube brush

Cleans the inside of test tubes.

Watch glass

Holds small samples, evaporates liquids, or covers a beaker.

Wire gauze

Supports glassware on an iron ring and spreads heat evenly.

Funnel

Transfers liquids or powders into containers; used with filter paper.

Reagent bottle

Stores chemicals or reagents safely.

Stirring rod

Stirs solutions and helps pour liquids.

Alcohol lamp

Provides a flame for heating substances.

Bunsen burner

Produces a hot flame for heating and sterilizing.

Laboratory thermometer

Measures the temperature of substances.

Tripod

Supports apparatus above a heat source.

Pipestem triangle

Supports a crucible while heating.

Porcelain crucible

Heats solids to very high temperatures.

Iron stand

Supports clamps and rings for laboratory setups.

Iron ring

Supports wire gauze, funnels, or crucibles on an iron stand.

Iron clamp

Holds glassware such as flasks or test tubes to a stand.

Mortar and pestle

Crushes and grinds solid chemicals into powder.

Pipette

Transfers or measures small amounts of liquid accurately.

Medicine dropper

Transfers liquids one drop at a time.

Porcelain/metal spatula

Scoops and transfers solid chemicals.

Triple beam balance

Measures the mass of objects accurately.

Crucible tongs

Holds or transfers hot crucibles and other hot objects.

Separatory funnel

Separates immiscible liquids of different densities.

Thistle tube

Adds liquids slowly into closed apparatus.

Desiccator

Keeps substances dry or cools heated samples without moisture.

Liebig condenser

Condenses vapor into liquid during distillation.

Burette

Dispenses precise amounts of liquid, mainly in titrations.

Cork borer

Cuts holes in corks or rubber stoppers.

Glass retort

Heats substances and performs simple distillation.

Centrifuge

Separates substances by spinning them at high speed.

Wash bottle

Dispenses distilled water for rinsing glassware.

Fish tail/Wing top

Attachment that spreads a Bunsen burner flame into a flat flame.

Büchner funnel

Filters substances quickly using vacuum filtration.

Cork/Rubber stopper

Seals test tubes and flasks to prevent leaks or contamination.

Pinch clamp

Stops or regulates the flow of liquid through rubber tubing.

Adapter

Connects different pieces of laboratory glassware or tubing.

Rubber tubing

Carries gases or liquids between laboratory apparatus.

Aspirator

Creates suction or vacuum for filtration or gas collection.

Burette clamp

Holds a burette securely on an iron stand.

Evaporating dish

Evaporates solvents and heats small amounts of solution.

Drying tube

Keeps moisture out of reaction vessels by containing a drying agent.

Spot plate

Performs small-scale reactions and observes color changes.