Types of Laboratory Equipment

The right laboratory equipment can distinguish between quick and accurate lab results. In this article, we’ll explore the various types of laboratory equipment that you need to conduct your experiments.

Whether you’re looking to buy new or used, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. These tips will help you avoid any unnecessary risks and save money in the process.

Pipets

Pipets are essential tools in laboratory equipment used to measure and dispense liquids. They are used in various lab disciplines and experiments, such as chemistry, biotechnology, and medicine.

The type of pipette used depends on the liquid measurement and dispensing needs. Volumetric pipettes are designed for high precision and accuracy when handling liquids. They are long with a narrow body bearing graduation marks to indicate the exact amount of liquid.

They are made from glass and have a bulb-shaped reservoir to draw liquid. These pipettes are designated for precise measuring and may require a little skill.

They create a partial vacuum above the liquid-holding chamber and selectively releasing this vacuum to draw up and dispense the desired liquid. They are versatile laboratory tools used in molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and medical tests to enable sterile liquid handling.

Burets

A burette is a laboratory apparatus that delivers measured volumes of liquid. These laboratory instruments are used in chemical testing to dispense and quantify varying volumes of fluid or, occasionally, gas in the titration process.

To dispense the liquid with precision, the pipette is turned horizontally until all of the inside surfaces of the buret contact the liquid. This allows the fluid to drain through the stopcock into a waste container.

Once the titration is complete, close the stopcock to stop releasing the titrant solution. Carefully touch the buret to the vessel’s side so that only a few milliliters of liquid remain hanging from the tip.

Burets come in various sizes, ranging from 5 ml to 100 ml. They should be rinsed two or three times with the chosen liquid before use. This will prevent stray drops of water from changing the concentration of the titrant. They should also be calibrated regularly to ensure accurate delivery of the liquid.

Test Tubes

A test tube is a glass or plastic container used to mix, heat and hold small quantities of liquid chemicals for laboratory experiments. They come in different sizes and are commonly found in chemical laboratories, pathology labs, and sample collection centers.

They are also used to measure the volume of liquids. They have a flared top for easier pouring and are usually made of borosilicate glass.

There are also specialty test tubes, like boiling or ignition tubes. These are thicker, longer, and sturdier than standard test tubes.

These are especially useful in heating a solid powder or other substance at high temperatures without melting the entire test tube. The average glass test tube will melt at a few hundred degrees.

Volumetric Flasks

Volumetric flasks are laboratory glassware used to measure and prepare solutions. These flasks are generally made of glass or plastic and come in various sizes.

They have a flat bottom and an elongated neck calibrated to hold a specified volume at a mark on the neck. This marking indicates the importance of liquid contained up to that point and is typically calibrated at a specific temperature (usually 20 degC).

Volumetric flasks are commonly used in chemistry laboratories because they are more accurate than other types of laboratory equipment, such as beakers or Erlenmeyer flasks. They are also helpful in dissolving large solids in a solution and can be modified for handling light-sensitive compounds such as silver nitrate or vitamin A.