Science Lab Equipment and Safety Guide

A set of vocabulary flashcards reviewing high school science lab equipment, measurement accuracy rankings, general lab expectations, emergency equipment, and WHMIS hazard symbols.

Used for holding, mixing, heating, and pouring liquids; features measurement markings but is not very accurate.

Beaker

Used for mixing solutions, swirling liquids without spilling, heating liquids, and storing substances temporarily; more accurate than a beaker but not intended for precise measurements.

Erlenmeyer Flask

Used for heating liquids and conducting chemical reactions; not intended for measuring.

Boiling Flask

Used for measuring liquid volume accurately; much more accurate than beakers and flasks.

Graduated Cylinder

Used for preparing solutions with one exact volume; one of the most accurate pieces of glassware in a laboratory.

Volumetric Flask

Used for holding small amounts of substances, conducting chemical reactions, and heating small samples.

Test Tube

Used for holding small samples, evaporating liquids, and covering beakers.

Watch Glass

Extremely accurate glassware used for delivering one exact volume of liquid.

Volumetric Pipette

Used for pouring liquids into containers with narrow openings and during filtration.

Funnel

Used for holding distilled water and rinsing equipment.

Wash Bottle

Used for delivering very precise amounts of liquid, commonly in titration experiments; more accurate than a graduated cylinder.

Buret

Used for supporting a crucible while it is heated; sits on an iron ring attached to a ring stand.

Clay Triangle

Used for heating solids to extremely high temperatures and burning substances during chemical investigations.

Crucible and Cover

Used for moving small amounts of liquid and adding liquid one drop at a time; not designed for precise measurements.

Disposable Pipette

Used during filtration to separate solids from liquids.

Filter Paper

Used for picking up small objects and handling specimens safely.

Forceps

Enclosed laboratory station used for protecting people from harmful fumes and gases, and safely handling chemicals that produce strong vapors.

Fume Hood

Used for crushing solids into powders and preparing materials for experiments.

Mortar and Pestle

Used for drawing liquid into a pipette safely and preventing direct mouth contact with chemicals.

Pipette Bulb

Used for supporting funnels, supporting wire gauze, and holding equipment above a heat source.

Ring Clamp

Used for sealing test tubes or flasks to prevent liquids or gases from escaping.

Rubber Stopper

Used for transferring powdered chemicals and moving small amounts of solid substances.

Spatula

Used for performing small-scale chemical reactions and testing multiple substances at once.

Spot Plate (Well Plate)

Used for mixing solutions and helping liquids pour smoothly down a funnel.

Stirring Rod

Used for lighting a Bunsen burner safely.

Striker

Used for holding a hot test tube during heating.

Test Tube Clamp

Used for organizing test tubes and preventing them from rolling or breaking.

Test Tube Rack

Used for holding flasks, test tubes, thermometers, or other glassware securely.

Utility Clamp

Used for holding chemicals while measuring mass and preventing chemicals from touching the balance.

Weighing Paper

Used for producing a flame for heating materials.

Bunsen Burner

Used for safely heating substances without an open flame.

Hot Plate

Used for evaporating liquids and recovering dissolved solids.

Evaporating Dish

Used for picking up hot beakers.

Beaker Tongs

Used for moving hot crucibles and other hot equipment.

Crucible Tongs

Used for supporting equipment during experiments.

Ring Stand (Retort Stand)

Used for supporting glassware while heating and distributing heat evenly.

Wire Gauze

Used for measuring mass in grams ($g$); usually accurate to $0.1\,g$.

Balance / Scale

Used for measuring temperature in Degrees Celsius ($^\circ\text{C}$).

Thermometer

Used for measuring time.

Stopwatch

Used for measuring length in millimetres, centimetres, and metres.

Meter Stick

Clothing or equipment that protects you from injury in the laboratory.

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

PPE used to protect eyes from chemicals, glass, and flying particles; must be worn when instructed by the teacher.

Safety Goggles

PPE used to protect clothing and skin from spills and prevent chemicals from coming into contact with the body.

Aprons or Lab Coats

Emergency equipment used if a chemical gets in your eyes; water must be flushed for at least 15 minutes without rubbing the eyes.

Eyewash Station

Emergency equipment used if chemicals spill on a person's body or clothing to remove harmful substances quickly.

Safety Shower

Emergency equipment used to put out small fires on the lab bench or garbage can; must never be used on a person.

Fire Extinguisher

Emergency equipment wrapped around a person from the shoulders down to smother flames if clothing or hair catches fire.

Fire Blanket

Something in the laboratory that can cause harm.

Hazard

WHMIS

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System; a system with 3 parts (Hazard Classification, Labeling, Safety Data Sheets) that helps recognize dangerous products and use them safely.

Hazard symbol indicating flammable materials that can catch fire easily, such as rubbing alcohol and gasoline.

WHMIS Flame Symbol

WHMIS Flame Over Circle Symbol

Hazard symbol indicating oxidizing materials that can make fires burn more intensely, such as oxygen.

WHMIS Gas Cylinder Symbol

Hazard symbol indicating compressed gases stored under pressure that can be dangerous if the container is punctured.

WHMIS Corrosion Symbol

Hazard symbol indicating corrosive materials that can cause corrosive damage to metals, skin, and eyes.

WHMIS Skull and Crossbones Symbol

Hazard symbol indicating acute toxicity that can cause serious illness or death in a short period of time if not handled correctly.

WHMIS Health Hazard Symbol

Hazard symbol indicating serious long-term health effects that may affect organs, breathing, or cause disease after repeated exposure.

WHMIS Exclamation Mark Symbol

Hazard symbol indicating harmful or irritating materials that may cause skin irritation, dizziness, or allergic reactions.

WHMIS Exploding Bomb Symbol

Hazard symbol indicating explosive or unstable materials that can explode if heated, dropped, or handled improperly.

WHMIS Environment Symbol

Hazard symbol indicating environmental hazards that can harm plants, animals, and ecosystems.

Wafting

The technique used to smell chemicals indirectly when instructed by the teacher, rather than sniffing them directly.

Golden Rule of Disposal

When in doubt, do not throw it out. Ask your teacher first.