For a long time, laboratory equipment has been of great interest to many people due to its importance in life. It has been the source that has led to the development of various types of tools and equipment used in laboratories for different purposes. Some tools are indispensable in any experiment. The article below will summarize some of the most common chemical laboratory equipment of 2018, describing their characteristics and practical applications. Let’s explore them with Lab Cường Thịnh!
- Microscope – The Most Common Laboratory Tool
The compound microscope is the most common laboratory equipment
A microscope allows people to see things that are usually difficult or impossible to see with the naked eye by magnifying them visually. Since its invention in the 1500s, early microscopes could only magnify objects three or nine times their normal size. Today, microscopes can magnify objects thousands of times their original size. They allow us to see structures like the inside of cells. Without microscopes, important breakthroughs such as the discovery of germs would not have been possible.
Among many types of microscopes, the compound microscope is the most common in laboratory environments. It consists of a base, a light source to provide better lighting, a sample to be examined, and lenses offering different magnification levels.
- Volumetric Flask – An Essential Laboratory Tool
The volumetric flask is a commonly used glass tool in laboratories. A volumetric flask is a round-bottomed flask with a long neck and flat bottom. It is used to accurately measure the volume of liquids. There is a small mark on the neck indicating the fill line (using the bottom of the flask). This ensures the flask can hold a precise amount of liquid. For example, a 500 ml volumetric flask can only hold 500 ml of liquid.
Volumetric flasks are essential tools for chemists, as certain reactions require precise amounts of liquid chemicals. It’s important to remember that temperature affects volume, so liquids that fluctuate in temperature should be avoided.
- Bunsen Burner
Bunsen burners are small gas burners that create a single flame. This mechanical device is connected to a flammable gas source and has a knob to control the gas flow and a rotating ring to control the airflow. Both must be adjusted to achieve an ideal flame for heating purposes.
Bunsen burners are widely used in biochemical laboratories, especially in school laboratories, to help students observe chemical reactions. The heat from a Bunsen burner can sterilize equipment, heat chemicals for reactions, or promote combustion.
- Laboratory Scale
In the laboratory, you need to know the mass of certain objects, samples, or chemicals accurately. To do this, scientists and medical professionals often use a triple beam balance. This laboratory tool is a type of scale that allows accurate mass readings using three beams.
Each beam is marked with different gram increments. The smallest beam is the most accurate, using increments from 1 to 10 grams. The middle beam uses 10-gram increments, while the largest beam uses 100-gram increments. The weight associated with each beam can move back and forth, which causes a pointer at the end of the beam to move up and down with the changing weight. When the pointer reaches the zero point, the measured mass is recorded. When using the scale, it’s helpful to start by looking at the largest increments first.
- Test Tubes
Test tubes are a type of glass commonly used in laboratories. Unlike volumetric flasks, not all test tubes are designed to measure. Laboratory test tubes are typically around 3 to 6 inches long and are not marked. This makes them ideal for storing or transferring chemicals from one container or location to another.
- Voltmeter in the Laboratory
A voltmeter is an electronic device used to measure the voltage between two points in an electric circuit. They help measure direct current (DC) circuits, such as those found in batteries, while others measure alternating current (AC) circuits, such as those found in household outlets. Scientists can use voltmeters to measure the voltage of certain electrical reactions that may occur in their laboratory experiments. Most modern voltmeters are digital and display the measured voltage as numbers on a small LCD screen.
- Glass Cylinder
The glass cylinder is the primary laboratory tool for measuring the volume of liquids. It has several marks along its length with specific numerical graduations. Glass cylinders come in various sizes depending on the user’s needs.
When reading the volume from a glass cylinder, you’ll notice that the liquid seems to form a small dip. The liquid along the edges will be higher than the liquid in the center, creating a concave shape like the edges of a tarp when viewed from above. This is called the meniscus. The lowest point of the meniscus is read at the nearest graduation to ensure the correct volume is measured.
Conclusion
With the essential information above, we hope you can understand the trends in usage among laboratory users. This will help you identify which important equipment is needed in your laboratory. Cường Thịnh Chemical and Technical Science Equipment Co., Ltd. is a leading provider of chemical and biochemical laboratory tools. If you have any questions about laboratory equipment, please feel free to contact us at our hotline: 093.131.9988 for further advice.
