ACTIVITY 1. Introduction to Laboratory Tools

Question 1

are one of the standard laboratory equipment used to measure and transfer small volumes of liquids. These air displacement piston pipettes use disposable tips and allow accurate, precise, and rapid dispensing of various volumes.

Answer 1

micropipette

Question 2

Part of a micropipette

Answer 2

• Volume Adjustment Knob
• Digital Volume Indicator
• Shaft
• Disposable Tip
• Plunger Button
• Tip Ejector Button
• Ejector Arm

Question 3

Sizes of micropipettes

Answer 3

• P10 = 0.5-10µl
• P20 = 2-20µl
• P100 = 10-100µl
• P200 = 20-200µl
• P1000 = 100-1000µl

Question 4

Micropipettes have different sizes that also measure a different range of volumes. These sizes are noted on the top of the _________.

Answer 4

plunger button

Question 5

True or False

Liquids are drawn directly into the shaft of the pipette

Answer 5

False

Liquids are never drawn directly into the shaft of the pipette. Instead, disposable
plastic tips are attached to the shaft.

Question 6

used to draw liquids into the shaft of the pippete

Answer 6

pipette tips

Question 7

tips that are used on micropipettes with capacities of 100-1000μl

Answer 7

blue pipette tips

Question 8

tips that are used on micropipettes with capacities of for 2-200μl

Answer 8

yellow tips

Question 9

tips that are used for the smallest micropipette, dispensing 0.5 to 10μl volumes

Answer 9

clear (“natural”) tips

Question 10

is an instrument used to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to high-pressure saturated steam

Answer 10

autoclave

Question 11

temperature and time for autoclave

Answer 11

121 °C for around 15–20 minutes (depending on the size of the load and the contents)

Question 12

Autoclave was invented by __________ in 1879 and its precursor, the steam digester was earlier created by _________ in 1679

Answer 12

Charles Chamberland
Denis Papin

Question 13

Autoclave literally means “________” referring to the mechanism that keeps the lid in place as the pressure is increased, creating steam.

Answer 13

self-locking

Question 14

As pressure increases, the boiling point of water also increases, allowing for the ___________

Answer 14

superheating of water without boiling

Question 15

are used when decontaminating biohazardous or potentially biohazardous material or sterilizing solids and liquids

Answer 15

Autoclaves

Question 16

are autoclaved to inactivate pathogens like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores

Answer 16

Biohazardous items

Question 17

Autoclaves available in the laboratory are _______. __________ and ______________

Answer 17

• digital
• stove top
• pressure-cooker type autoclaves with detached pressure regulator

Question 18

pressure-cooker type autoclaves with detached pressure regulator

Answer 18

the simplest of autoclaves.

Question 19

Digital autoclaves and those with built-in stoves are used for

Answer 19

sterilization

Question 20

stovetop autoclaves are for _________purposes

Answer 20

decontamination

Question 21

is a name for any device that spins at a high speed to press objects outward with centrifugal force

Answer 21

centrifuge

Question 22

are used to apply specific forces to a subject in a
controlled environment

Answer 22

centrifuge

Question 23

are used in many different scientific fields, from
aerospace to chemistry. They are often used to separate items in suspension.

Answer 23

Centrifuge

Question 24

The centrifuge works using the sedimentation principle where the centripetal acceleration causes more dense substances to separate out along the __________ of the tube (radial direction). By the same token, lighter objects will tend to move to the ________ of the tube.

Answer 24

bottom;
top

Question 25

is an analytical instrument used to measure the intensity of light as a function of its wavelength. It measures transmission or apparent reflectance of light as a function of wavelength.

Answer 25

Spectrophotometer

Question 26

it allows precise analysis of color or accurate comparison of luminous intensities of two sources or specific wavelengths

Answer 26

Spectrophotometer

Question 27

According to _________, the amount of light absorbed by a medium is proportional to the concentration of the absorbing material or solute present

Answer 27

Beer’s law

Question 28

the concentration of a colored solute in a solution may be determined in the lab by measuring the ___________ of light at a given wavelength.

Answer 28

absorbency

Question 29

_______ (often abbreviated as lambda) is measured in nm.

Answer 29

Wavelength

Question 30

The spectrophotometer allows the selection of a ________ to pass through the solution. Usually, the _________ is chosen which corresponds to the absorption maximum of the solute.

Answer 30

wavelength

Question 31

When using the spectrophotometer, you should have two cuvettes in a plastic rack. e. One should be
marked “B” for the ___ and one “S” for your _____.

Answer 31

blank
sample

Question 32

are carefully manufactured for their optical uniformity and are quite expensive

Answer 32

cuvettes

They should be handled with care so that they do not
get scratched and stored separately from standard test tubes. Try not to touch them except at
the top of the tube to prevent finger smudges that alter the reading.

Question 33

Micropipettes have 3 positions:

Answer 33

Rest position, First stop, and Second stop.