Lab Equipment Review

A comprehensive vocabulary set covering essential laboratory equipment, their specifications, and usage instructions as detailed in the lab practical notes.

Tabletop Balance

A weighing device used for measuring mass, featuring an interface with ON/OFF, PRINT/CAL, UNIT/PCS, and TARE/MENU buttons.

Analytical Balance

A high-precision weighing instrument, such as the Schuler Scientific model, used for measuring very small masses.

Microtube Rack

A dedicated holder designed to organize and support small microtubes in the laboratory.

4-way Tube Holder

A versatile laboratory rack configured to hold varying sizes of tubes simultaneously.

Peg Rack/Test Tube Rack

A support structure used to hold or air-dry multiple test tubes.

Serological Pipettes

Graduated tubes used to transfer liquids in volumes of $25\,\text{mL}$, $10\,\text{mL}$, $5\,\text{mL}$, $2\,\text{mL}$, and $1\,\text{mL}$, typically used with pipette pumps.

Bactoincinerator

A device used to sterilize laboratory equipment, such as inoculating loops, using high heat.

DPTP

An acronym for Disposable Plastic Transfer Pipette.

Scoopula

A spatula-like utensil used for transferring solid chemicals and powders.

Heat Block

A digital device, such as the Benchmark model, used for heating samples contained in tubes to a set temperature like $37.0^\circ \text{C}$.

Inoculating Loop

A wire tool used in microbiology to retrieve an inoculum from a culture of microorganisms.

Beakers

Cylindrical containers made of glass (e.g., GG-17) used for stirring, mixing, and heating liquids, available in sizes such as $400\,\text{mL}$, $500\,\text{mL}$, and $1000\,\text{mL}$.

Erlenmeyer Flasks

Conical laboratory flasks with a narrow neck, used for mixing and storing chemicals, with common volumes including $125\,\text{mL}$, $250\,\text{mL}$, $500\,\text{mL}$, and $1000\,\text{mL}$.

pH Test Strips

Universal test paper used to determine the acidity or alkalinity of a liquid across a range of $0$ to $14$.

Glass Stirring Rod

A slender piece of glass used to mix chemicals and liquids during laboratory procedures.

Balance Brush

A soft brush used to clean debris and powders off sensitive laboratory balances.

Autoclave Tape

Adhesive tape that indicates whether a package has undergone sterilization by changing its physical appearance after exposure to the autoclave process.

Vortexer

A device, such as the Neuation model, used to rapidly mix small containers of liquid using a touch-pulse or timed speed setting.

Conical Tubes

Centrifuge tubes with a pointed bottom, typically used in sizes like $15\,\text{mL}$ and $50\,\text{mL}$.

Microcentrifuge Tubes

Small capped tubes used for micro-volume liquids, with common capacities of $2.0\,\text{mL}$, $1.5\,\text{mL}$, $0.6\,\text{mL}$, $0.5\,\text{mL}$, $0.4\,\text{mL}$, and $0.1\,\text{mL}$.

Colony Counter

An instrument used to assist in the manual counting of bacterial colonies on an agar plate.

Ice Bucket

An insulated container used to keep laboratory samples cold by surrounding them with ice.

Stirring Hot Plate

A laboratory tool, such as the Thermo Scientific model, used to simultaneously heat a solution and stir it using a rotating magnetic field.

P-10 Micropipette

A micropipette designed for volumes of $0.5\text{ to }10\,\mu \text{L}$, used with natural colored tips.

P-20 Micropipette

A micropipette designed for volumes of $2\text{ to }20\,\mu \text{L}$, used with yellow colored tips.

P-200 Micropipette

A micropipette designed for volumes of $20\text{ to }200\,\mu \text{L}$, used with yellow colored tips.

P-1000 Micropipette

A micropipette designed for volumes of $100\text{ to }1000\,\mu \text{L}$, used with blue colored tips.

Mortar and Pestle

A pair of tools used to crush and grind solid substances into a fine powder.

Spectrophotometer

An instrument, such as the Spectronic 200, that measures the intensity of light as a beam passes through a sample solution.

Graduated Cylinder

A container like the Eisco Labglass $100:1.0\,\text{mL}$ model, used for the precise measurement of liquid volumes.

Hot Hand

A protective silicone or rubber gripper used to safely handle hot laboratory glassware.

Kimwipes

Delicate task wipers produced by Kimberly-Clark for cleaning laboratory equipment and glass surfaces.

Media Bottles

Glass containers made of Boro 3.3, used for storing reagents or media in capacities such as $500\,\text{mL}$, $1000\,\text{mL}$, $2000\,\text{mL}$, or $5000\,\text{mL}$.

Biohazard Bag

A specialized bag (e.g., Fisherbrand) for potentially infectious material that can withstand autoclave temperatures of $250^\circ \text{F}$ ($121^\circ \text{C}$).

Gel Electrophoresis Chamber

An apparatus used to separate DNA, RNA, or protein molecules based on their size and electrical charge.