Common Laboratory Equipment and Safety

Vocabulary flashcards covering common laboratory equipment, glassware, hardware, and safety standards.

Meniscus

The curved surface of a liquid in a tube.

Fume Hood

A laboratory safety system designed to ensure that fumes from chemicals stay contained or are extracted safely.

Laboratory Safety Requirements

Mandatory safety features including appropriate security systems, fire alarms, at least one fire extinguisher, an eye wash station, and a first aid kit.

Basic Laboratory Utilities

Essential utility services required for scientific and technical tasks, specifically running water, gas, and electricity.

Graduated Cylinder

A tall, narrow cylindrical container marked with volume increments along the side, used to measure liquids.

Test Tube

A clear, thin cylindrical tube open at the top and closed with a rounded base, used to hold and test small quantities of substances.

Graduated Test Tube

A test tube that features marked volume gradations along its side for approximate measurement.

Beakers

Cylindrical glass containers with a lip for pouring, presented in capacities of $500\,\text{mL}$, $250\,\text{mL}$, and $100\,\text{mL}$.

Burette

A long, graduated vertical glass tube with a stopcock at the bottom, used to dispense and measure known amounts of liquid.

Pipette

A slender graduated glass or plastic tube used to measure and transfer precise quantities of liquid.

Pipette Bulb

A flexible bulb attached to the top of a pipette to safely aspirate and dispense liquids.

Dropper

A short tube fitted with a squeezable bulb used to draw up and release liquids in small drops.

Volumetric Flask

A flask with a pear-shaped body and a long, narrow neck calibrated to hold a precise volume of liquid.

Conical Flask

A flask with a broad, flat bottom and a tapered conical neck, designed for mixing or swirling liquids without spilling.

Round-Bottom Flask

A spherical-bottomed flask with a cylindrical neck, commonly used for uniform heating, boiling, and distillation.

Separatory Funnel

A pear-shaped funnel equipped with a stopcock at the lower stem, used to separate immiscible liquid mixtures.

Conical Funnel

A wide, cone-shaped funnel used to channel liquids or fine substances into small-mouthed containers.

Evaporating Dish

A small, shallow dish with a spout, used to evaporate solvent from a solution.

Lab Watch Glass

A circular, concave piece of glass used as a surface to evaporate liquids, weigh solid samples, or cover beakers.

Pestle and Mortar

A pair of tools consisting of a bowl (mortar) and a club-shaped tool (pestle) used to crush and grind solids into fine powder.

Spatula

A small, flat-ended implement used to scoop, lift, and transfer solid or powdered chemicals.

Glass Rod

A slender solid glass stick used to stir mixtures and direct the pour of liquid reagents.

Bunsen Burner

A gas-burning apparatus used in the laboratory to produce an adjustable open flame for heating.

Tripod

A three-legged metal stand placed over a heat source to support laboratory glassware.

Wire Gauze

A flat sheet of metal mesh placed over a ring or tripod to support glassware and evenly distribute heat.

Support Base

A heavy, flat metal foundation that holds an upright rod, providing structural stability for lab assemblies.

Retort Ring

A circular metal ring that attaches to a support rod to hold funnels, wire gauze, or reaction vessels.

Metal Clamp

An adjustable gripping tool mounted on a support stand to secure glassware in place.

Clamp Holder

A metal connector that attaches and locks clamps or rings onto an upright support stand.

Wooden Test Tube Clamp

A spring-operated wooden holder used to securely grasp a test tube, protecting hands when the tube is heated.

Rack

A wooden or plastic stand with holes designed to hold multiple test tubes upright simultaneously.