Lab Equipment

Question 1

Beaker

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Erlenmeyer Flask

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Florence Flask

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Graduated Cylinder

Answer 4

Used to measure volumes of liquids.

Question 5

Gas Collecting Bottle

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Test Tubes

Answer 6

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Question 7

Test Tube Holder

Answer 7

Useful for holding a test tube which may be too hot to handle.

Question 8

Test Tube Brushes

Answer 8

Used to clean test tubes and graduated cylinders.

Question 9

Test Tube Racks

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Rubber Stoppers

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Spot Plates

Answer 11

Used when we want to perform many small scale reactions at one time.

Question 12

Watch Glass

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Glass Stir Rod

Answer 13

Used to manually stir solutions. Can also be used to transfer a single drop of a solution.

Question 14

Medicine Dropper

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Litmus Paper

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Forceps

Answer 16

Used to pick up small objects.

Question 17

Funnel

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Mohr Pipet

Answer 18

Measures and delivers exact volumes of liquids.

Question 19

Wash Bottle

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Weighing Boat

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Spatulas

Answer 21

Used to dispense solid chemicals from their containers.

Question 22

Beaker Tongs

Answer 22

Used to move beakers containing hot liquids.

Question 23

Bunsen Burner

Answer 23

Used for the heating of nonvolatile liquids and solids.

Question 24

Evaporating Dish

Answer 24

Used for the heating of stable solid compounds and elements.

Question 25

Crucible

Answer 25

Used for heating certain solids and particularly metals to very high temperatures.

Question 26

Clay Triangle

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Crucible Tongs

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Glass Plates

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Triangular File

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Ringstands and their Components

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Ringstands and their Components Iron Rings

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Ringstands and their Components - Utility Clamps

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Ringstands and their Components - Double Buret Clamps

Answer 33

Used to burets - long graduated tubes used in titrations.

Question 34

Ringstands and their Components - Wire Gauze

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Pressed Fiber Pad

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

Strikers

Answer 36

Used to burn light Bunsen burners.