laboratory
Apparatus
and its uses
ORGANIC LABORATORY
SAFETY GEARS
Safety Goggles: As the name suggests, safety goggles
ensure the safety of your eyes. They are one of the most
important safety gear, as the eyes are the most vulnerable
part of the human body. Several chemicals like acids may
cause a severe injury to eyesight, such as eye rash or a
permanent loss of vision.
Lab Coat: The lab coat is not only a general uniform of
medical and chemical professionals but has a very
specified purpose to it. The knee-long coat ensures the
safety of the body and clothing from accidental spills and
splashes of harmful chemicals. Moreover, in case of
emergencies like fire or contamination, a lab coat can be
easily and quickly removed than the usual clothing.
Latex/Nitrile Gloves: Chemicals like acids are very reactive,
and physical contact with such chemicals can cause severe
burns. Latex or nitrile gloves work as a barrier between
human skin and protect them from burns, infections, and
contaminations caused by hazardous chemicals.
MICROSCOPE
A microscope operates on the principles of
refraction of light, and takes advantage of how
convex lenses bend light. There are generally
two lenses - objective and oculus. The objective
stays very close to the sample to be seen and
makes a virtual large image of it. The oculus
stays close to the eye and enlarges the previous
image even further, and we see that.
TEST TUBE
The next very common apparatus is the test
tube. They are usually cylindrical pipes made
up of glass, with a circular opening on one side
and a rounded bottom on the other side. They
come in different sizes but the most common
standard size is 18*150 mm. Test tubes are one
of the most important apparatus as they are
functional from storing to mixing reagents in
any chemical or biological reactions.
TEST TUBE HOLDER
A test tube holder is a device used to hold test
tubes while heating them. It provides a safe
distance between the person’s hand and the
test tube, protecting the skin from accidental
burns caused by the spilling of chemicals.
TEST TUBE RACKS
A test tube rack is composed of one
perforated sheet arranged over a plain
sheet of plastic or metal, which holds
the test tubes in an upright position.
Moreover, some test tube racks also
come with the space to hold the test
tubes in a slanting position. They are
specifically employed in experiments
that require the use of several test tubes
or when a test tube must be stored
undisturbed for an extended period of
time.
BEAKERS
Beakers are another cylindrical
utensil made up of glass, with a flat
bottom and an upper opening, which
may or may not have a spout. They
are of varying sizes and are used to
hold, heat, or mix substances with the
proper measure. Beakers come in
every size from tiny 20 ml cups to
liter-sized buckets, and everything in
between - but 250-600 ml beakers
are most common.
MAGNIFYING GLASS
A magnifying glass is one of the first introduced lab equipment among the students. As
the name suggests, it is used to view enlarged or magnified images of objects or read the
small calibrations marked on many equipments. It has a convex lens for object
enlargement and usually has a wooden handle to hold it.
It also works with the principle of virtual image creation
due to the refraction of light. The centerpiece of a
magnifying glass is a convex lens (a round slab of glass fat
in the center and progressively slender towards the edges).
When light passes through it, a larger-than-life image of
the objective is created behind it, which we see from the
other side of the glass. The wooden or plastic handle,
attached to the lens with a metal or plastic rim, helps you
to hold the magnifying glass steadily.
FLASK
Flask is a category of glassware used in the chemistry lab. They come in
a variety of shapes and sizes, with each one having a specific purpose
associated with it. Let’s take a look at few types of flasks used in
chemistry labs.
ERLENMEYER FLASK
Erlenmeyer Flask, also known as a conical
flask, is glassware comprising of conical
body, flat bottom, and a cylindrical neck. It
is one of the most commonly used flasks to
carry out various experiments in the
chemistry lab, such as titration, filtration,
crystallization, etc.
FUNNELS
Funnels are necessary equipment to
pour substances and solutions in
narrow-mouthed test tubes and
conical flasks. There is variety of its
available, most common ones are
filter, thistle, and dropping funnels.
CRUCIBLE
Crucibles are made up of porcelain
and are used to store and heat
substances when required to be
heated at high temperatures since
glassware are not always suitable for
such high heat involving experiments.
SPATULA
These laboratory spatulas are
very much similar to the kitchen
like spatulas found in our home
but they are just very smaller in
size in comparison. The spatulas
are usually resistant to heat and
acids, hence making them
suitable for large range use in
the laboratory experiments.
WEIGHING MACHINES
When we perform experiments in the
laboratories, we deal with very small
quantities of reagents usually in the units
of micro or mini grams. With a general
physical balance, it is tough to get the
desired and exact amounts of the reagents
and so these weighing machines come into
the picture. These machines help in
measuring very small units of substances
in terms of weight.
MORTAR AND PESTLE
Mortar and pestle are ancient
tools used to crush and grind
ingredients or substances into a
thin paste or powder. They are
used in chemistry labs to grind
chemical crystals or tablets into
powder or paste form.
GRADUATED CYLINDER
A graduated cylinder, also known as a
volumetric cylinder or measuring cylinder, is a
long slender vessel used to measure the
volume of liquids in the chemistry lab. They
come in various sizes with volumes ranging
from 5 mL to a few Liters. Large graduated
cylinders are typically made of polypropylene
because of its excellent chemical resistance or
polymethylpentene because of its
transparency, which makes them lighter and
less fragile than glass. Graduated cylinders
contain a strong base or foot for stability and
a spout to enable pouring out the contents.
Some glass cylinders contain a plastic bumper
or ring to help prevent inadvertent breaking if
the cylinder falls over due to its unsteadiness.
TONGS
Tongs, though not much in use, are
common and basic apparatus in any lab.
They are used to grasp and lift hot
vessels and harmful substances during
any kind of reaction taking place in the
lab. Many fingers have burned due to
careless handling of hot or dangerous
substances in labs. Therefore, make it a
habit to handle things with tongs unless
you are absolutely sure otherwise.
WATCH GLASS
This apparatus is more commonly
found in chemistry laboratories and is
made up of a concave piece of glass.
It is normally used to hold solids,
evaporate liquids, and heat small
quantities of different substances as
per the need of the experiment.
AMMETER
Ammeter is important lab apparatus
used to measure the amount of current
flowing; very popular equipment presents
in physics labs. It is also very handful
during electrolysis reactions.
BURRETTE
Its mostly used in the titration
reactions, and is handful in delivering a
known volume of any substance to
other equipment. This apparatus is a
long-graduated tube, with a stopcock
present at the lower end. It usually
comes in the sizes of 10ml, 25ml or
50ml.
EVAPORATING DISH
Evaporating dish, also known as a
china dish, is a bowl-like apparatus
that resembles a crucible but is
used to evaporate liquid substances.
It’s utilized in those experiments
where one needs to eliminate
surplus solvent to get a
concentrated solution or a solid
precipitate of the dissolved
component. Evaporating dishes are
typically made of porcelain, and
they can range in volume from 3
mL to 10 mL.
GENERAL RULES:
A fume hood or other containment device (glove box, etc.) must be
used if exposure limits are likely to be exceeded, or if uncertainty exists.
Because odor thresholds can be greater than the exposure limits,
odors should not be used as the primary method of vapor detection.
If suspicious odors are noticed, the laboratory worker should
contact the CHO immediately.
Use a Fume Hood if the TWA is below 50 ppm or 100 mg/m3
(Prudent Practices, p. 60).
AVOID INHALATION OF CHEMICALS; DO NOT
“SNIFF-TEST” CHEMICALS
If you need to smell a vapor then do not put your nose
directly above a flask, beaker, or other vessel that contains
chemicals.
Holding the vessel at least one foot away, use you hand to
gently and very cautiously fan the vapors towards your
nose.
NO FOOD, TOBACCO, COSMETICS:
Never eat, drink, chew gum, smoke, or apply cosmetics in
laboratories or chemical storage areas.
Food, beverage, or tobacco products are not allowed in
laboratories or chemical storage areas. Food, drink, and
especially tobacco absorb chemical vapors, particulates, and
gases from the air.
Hold reagent bottles and other vessels containing liquids so that any drips will be
opposite the label, and hold them so any previous drips on that same side do notget
on your hand. Clean off any drips or spills.
Avoid accidental self-injection of chemicals (be careful with sharp objects!).
Never taste chemicals.
Never use mouth suction to pipette chemicals; use suction bulbs or other
mechanical devices.
Only use glassware or utensils for their intended purposes (e.g., do not use a beaker
as a drinking glass).
Handle and store laboratory glassware with care to avoid damage.
Inspect glassware often; do not use damaged glassware.
Use extra precautions when handling containers that are under negative or positive
pressure; shield or wrap them to contain chemicals and fragments should an
explosion/implosion occur.
AVOID PRACTICAL JOKES OR OTHER BEHAVIOR
THAT MIGHT CONFUSE, STARTLE, OR DISTRACT
ANOTHER WORKER.
no “horseplay” or behavior that is harassing, disruptive,
aggressive, or in any way presents a hazard to those working
in the laboratory is forbidden. Any person or groups of
persons engaging in such behavior will be required to leave
the laboratory.
Immediately clean up all spills and properly dispose of the spilled
chemical.
Hazardous Waste. Deposit chemical wastes in appropriately labeled
receptacles and follow all protocols, including proper labeling, for the
disposal of waste chemicals.
Never add water to acids or bases. Dilute concentrated acids and bases
by slowly pouring the acid or base into the water while stirring.
Combining acid and water frequently generates heat and may cause
splashing.
Adding the acid to the water reduces the amount of heat generated at
the point of mixing and provides more water to disperse the heat.
