Lab Equipment

Beaker

hold solids or liquids that will not release gases when reacted or are unlikely to splatter if stirred or heated.

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Flasks

Erlenmeyer Flask

hold solids or liquids that may release gases during a reaction or that are likely to splatter if stirred or heated.

Florence Flask

Rarely used in first year chemistry, it is used for the mixing of chemicals.
Narrow neck prevents splash exposure.

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Graduated Cylinder

used to measure volumes of liquids

Gas Collecting Bottle

when large volumes of gases are produced, and must be collected by the displacement of water

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Test Tubes

Holds liquids for observation or testing
biggest is ignition tube

Test Tube Holder

useful for holding a test tube which is too hot to handle.

Test Tube Brushes

used to clean test tubes and graduated cylinders
Forcing a large brush into a small test tube will often break the tube

Test Tube Racks

for holding and organizing test tubes on the laboratory counter
Plastic racks may melt in contact with very hot test tubes.

Rubber Stoppers

used to close containers to avoid spillage or contamination.
Containers should never be heated when there is a stopper in place.

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Spot Plates

used when we want to perform many small scale reactions at one time.
We will use these many times during the year.

Watch Glass

hold a small amount of solid, such as the product of a reaction

Glass Stir Rod

manually stir solutions.
It can also be used to transfer a single drop of a solution.

Medicine Dropper

used to transfer a small volume of liquid (less than one mL).

Rubber Bulb

top of each medicine dropper

Litmus Paper

Red litmus paper is used to identify bases.
Blue litmus paper is used to identify acids.

Funnel

aid in the transfer of liquid from one vessel to another.

Forceps (or tweezers)

used to pick up small objects.

Mohr Pipet

measures and delivers exact volumes of liquids

Wash Bottle

has a spout that delivers a wash solution to a specific area.
Distilled water is the only liquid that should be used in a wash bottle.

Weighing Boat

used to weigh solids that will be transferred to another vessel.

Spatulas

are used to dispense solid chemicals from their containers
Chemicals should never be transferred with your bare hands.

Beaker Tongs

used to move beakers containing hot liquids

Bunsen Burner

used for the heating of nonvolatile liquids and solids.

Evaporating Dish

used for the heating of stable solid compounds and elements.

Crucible

used for heating certain solids, particularly metals, to very high temperatures.

Clay Triangle

used as a support for porcelain crucibles when being heated over a Bunsen burner.

Crucible Tongs

For handling hot crucibles; also used to pick up other hot objects.
NOT to be used for picking up beakers!

Glass Plates

provide a surface for semi-micro scale experiments, such as drop reactions and testing of acids and bases.

Triangular File

used primarily to cut glass rod, a skill that your instructor will share with you when it becomes useful.

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Ringstands

a safe and convenient way to perform reactions that require heating using a Bunsen burner.

Iron Rings

connect to a ringstand and provide a stable, elevated platform for the reaction.

Utility Clamps

used to secure test tubes, distillation columns, and burets to the ringstand.

Double Buret Clamps

used to hold burets

Burets

long graduated tubes used in titration.

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Wire Gauze

sits on the iron ring to provide a place to stand a beaker.
On older wire gauze, the white material is asbestos!

Pressed Fiber Pad

A 4" x 4" square of ceramic fiber
it provides a surface for hot beakers so that the beaker does not come in contact with a cold countertop and shatter.

Strikers

used to light Bunsen burners
The flints on strikers are expensive. Do not operate the striker repeatedly just to see the sparks!