Science Lab Equipment Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering common science lab apparatus, their descriptions, and their uses.

BEAKER

Glass apparatus in common sizes of 100, 250, 400, & 1000 mL used as a container or cup for stirring, mixing, pouring, and heating.

GRADUATED CYLINDER

Glass apparatus usually marked with a milliliter (mL) scale, used to measure volume and may be heated.

ERLENMEYER FLASK

Glass flask in common sizes of 125, 250, and 500 mL, used for mixing/watching reactions and can be heated.

ROUND BOTTOM FLASK

Glass flask used for mixing or watching reactions and heating.

TEST TUBE & TEST TUBE BRUSH

Glass tubes in several sizes used for mixing/watching reactions, along with a brush used for cleaning.

TEST TUBE RACK

Wood, metal, or plastic stand used to hold test tubes upright.

TEST TUBE HOLDER

Metal clamp with a spring handle used to hold a test tube.

CRUCIBLE TONGS

Metal tool used to pick up and hold a crucible.

BURET

Glass tube marked in a milliliter scale and fitted with a stopcock, pinch clamp, or glass bead, used to hold liquids for titration.

BURET CLAMP

Metal clamp with flexible clips used to hold burets when titrating.

METRIC RULER

10 cm tool divided into cm and mm divisions, used to measure length.

CLAY TRIANGLE

Triangular wire frame with clay material coverings used to support the crucible.

CRUCIBLE AND COVER

Small porcelain dish with cover used to heat small amounts of solid material at high temperature.

WIRE GAUZE

Wire screen with a ceramic fibered center that rests on the ring for the ring stand to spread the heat of a flame.

BUNSEN BURNER

Metal heating device connected to a gas outlet with rubber tubing, used to heat chemicals in beakers or test tubes.

RING STAND and RING

Metal rod upright on a heavy base, serving as a support with many uses.

VOLUMETRIC FLASK

Glass flask marked off to liter capacity with a glass stopper, used in the preparation of solutions.

CHEM PLATE / SPOT PLATE

Plastic plate with many different wells, used to hold liquids in micro experiments.

CHEMICAL SCOOP

Metal or porcelain tool used to transfer chemicals in weighing.

WASH BOTTLE

Squeezable plastic bottle with an angular tip used to dispense distilled water.

EVAPORATING DISH

Porcelain dish used as a container for small amounts of liquid being evaporated.

WATCH GLASS

Curved glass that may be used as a beaker cover or for holding small amounts of solid.

PIPETTE

Plastic, disposable tool used to transfer small amounts of liquid.

ELECTRONIC BALANCE

Digital scale, precise to the thousandths of a gram, used to find the mass in grams of an object.

HOT PLATE

Electric device often with heat and stirring controls, used to heat substances in glass or metal containers.

WEIGH BOAT

Plastic tray or paper used to hold and find the mass of a chemical.

GLASS STIRRING ROD

Glass rod used to stir solutions.

THERMOMETER

Glass or digital device used to measure temperature.

MAGNIFYING GLASS

Plastic tool used to magnify objects.

STRIKER

Metal tool with flint used to light the Bunsen burner.

TWEEZERS/FORCEPS

Metal tool used to pick up and carry metals.

FUNNEL

Plastic or glass equipment that holds filter paper to filter heterogeneous solutions.

SCOOPULA

Curved metal object used to scoop out chemicals from a container.

METAL SPATULA

Long flat metal tool used to scrape solids off sides of containers.

BEAKER TONGS

Metal apparatus used to carry or move hot beakers.

GOGGLES

Rubber/plastic eye protection stored in a goggle storage container that must always be worn throughout the entire lab.

BROKEN GLASS

Use the broken glass box to dispose of any glass. Use the trash can to dispose of paper waste only!

EYEWASH STATION

Located in the back of the lab under the safety shower. Push this handle to turn the water on, which will stay on until you turn it off. Flush your eyes for 15-20 minutes.

SAFETY SHOWER

Lots of water comes out to rinse chemicals spilled on you. There is a lever present to help you activate this.

EYEWASH BOTTLE AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER

The fire extinguisher and eyewash bottle can be found behind the door in the back left corner of lab stations. The eyewash bottle is another tool you can use for immediate rinses as the extinguisher is used for fires.