Common

Lab Apparatus

1. For Transferring

Apparatus Definition/Uses Solid Reagents Liquid Reagents

• Porcelain/Stainless
Spatula • Transfer solids/scooping from YES
original container to weighing box
• Used to add chemical solution to a
reaction vessel
Thistle Tube • Minimizes risk of reaction
occurring too quickly and bubbling YES
over
• Small glass tubes with narrow tips
on one end and rubber tips on the
Mohr Buret other YES
• Used to deliver a variable but
controllable and measurable
quantity of solution
Geissler Buret • ACCURATE YES
• Has built stopcock at the end
• Measuring an exact volume of
Volumetric Pipet liquid and placing it into another YES
container
• Transferring mL volumes of liquid
• Range: > 1mL --> 50mL
• Types: Sterile, Plastic, Disposable
Serological Pipet (commonly used in parasitology YES
and microbiology), Glass, and
Reusable
• NOT Calibrated
• Small glass tubes with narrow tips
on one end and rubber bulb at the
Dropper Pipet other YES
• Draws liquid in small drops
• Transfer liquids or fine-grained
materials into containers with
Glass Funnel small openings YES
• Used for FILTRATION
• Minor Use: Glide Liquid
Stirring Rod • Major Use: Stirring and Mixing YES

 2. Volume Measurement

Apparatus Definition/Uses Accurate Approximate

Measurement Measurement
• Primary measuring tool for liquids
Graduated Cylinder • Gives precise volume YES
• Transferring mL volumes of liquid
• Range: > 1mL --> 50mL
• Types: Sterile, Plastic, Disposable
(commonly used in parasitology
Serological Pipet and microbiology), Glass, and YES
Reusable
• Small glass tubes with narrow tips
Mohr Buret on one end and rubber tips on the YES
other
• Used to prepare solutions to an
accurate volume
Volumetric Flask • Comes with “special caps” that will YES
not let anything in or out
• Measuring an exact volume of
Volumetric Pipet liquid and placing it into another YES
container
• Used to deliver a variable but
controllable and measurable
quantity of solution
Geissler Buret • ACCURATE YES
• Has built stopcock at the end
• Hold liquids with markings to
Beaker measure what it contains
• Mixing stirring and heating YES
• AKA Conical Flask
• Holds and mixes chemicals
Erlenmeyer Flask • Small neck is used to facilitate YES
mixing without spilling

 3. For Ignition

Apparatus Definition/Uses
• AKA Hard Glass Tube
Ignition Tube • Can withstand open flame/ direct heating by Bunsen Burner
• Primary Use: hold small quantities of substances
• Metal heating device connected to a flammable gas source
Bunsen Burner • Gas valve --> adjust the amount of gas flow
• Rotating collar --> used the control the air flow
Alcohol Lamp • Apparatus used as a small heat source
• Used to hold liquids
Florence Flask • UNIFORM heating, boiling, distillation and ease of swirling
• Hold and swirl long neck to swirl
Porcelain Crucible • Used for holding chemicals during heating to very high
temperatures

4. For Distillation
Apparatus Definition/Uses
Condenser • Used to condense
• Changes physical state of a substance from gaseous to its liquid
state
Distilling Flask • Primary use: distilling
• Separate two liquids with different boiling points
Adapter • Used in distillation set-up
• Withstand thermal variations in processes like heating and cooling
Cork
Glass Tubing
• Used to hold liquids
Florence Flask • UNIFORM heating, boiling, distillation and ease of swirling
• Hold and swirl long neck to swirl














 5. As Containers
Apparatus Definition/Uses
Test Tube • Glassware with rounded bottom
• Designed to contain small amounts of samples for reactions
Beaker • Hold liquids with markings to measure what it contains
• Mixing stirring and heating
Florence Flask • Used to hold liquids
• UNIFORM heating, boiling, distillation and ease of swirling
• Hold and swirl long neck to swirl
• AKA Conical Flask
Erlenmeyer Flask • Holds and mixes chemicals
• Small neck is used to facilitate mixing without spilling

6. For Mechanical Support

Apparatus Definition/Uses
Iron Stand • Upright metal rod attached to a heavy metal base
• Provides stability and support
Iron Ring • Metal ring with screw clamp for attachment to iron stand
Iron Clamp
Tripod • 3 legged metal frame used as a platform
Clamp Holder • Metal equipment used to secure laboratory clamps
Buret Clamp • Metal equipment
• Holds and secures buret on a stand
Clamps • Hold and secure glassware

7. For Handling and Holding

Apparatus Definition/Uses
Test Tube Holder • Metal clamp with a spring handle
• Used to hold a test tube
Test Tube Rack • Made of wood, metal, or plastic
• Hold multiple test tubes in an upright position
Clay Triangle • Triangular wire frame with clay covering
• Support crucible when heated over an open flame
Crucible Tong • Used to hold crucible

 8. Special Function
Apparatus Definition/Uses
Iodine Flask • Used for the determination of IODINE
• Has ground socket and cup shaped top
Mortar and Pestle • Ceramic, Glass, Metal, Hard wood or Hard stone
• Mortar: vessel which substances are ground or crushed with pestle
• Pestle: used to crush mash or grind materials in mortar
Separatory Funnel • Glass funnel with a tap at the bottom
• Parting immiscible liquid components in a mixture
Buchner Funnel • Funnel with perforated plate and a vacuum in the flask underneath
the filter
Desiccator • Sealable glass enclosure containing desiccant
• Use: storage or preservation of moisture sensitive items

9. Other

Apparatus Definition/Uses
Porcelain Casserole • small handled deep porcelain crucible used for heating and
evaporating
Watch Glass • used to cover a beaker
• hold small amount of solid or liquid while they are being weighed
Wing Top • wing shaped metal top that fits on a bunsen burner
• used to adjust the shape of the flame
Thermometer • device used to determine temperature
Weighing Bottle • cylindrical glass bottles used for precise weighing of solids
Cork Borer • metal tool used for cutting a hole in a cork or rubber stopper
Triangular File • metal tool for scoring and trimming glass rods
• named after Julius Richard petri (bacteriologist)
Petri Dish • It is a shallow cylindrical glass or plastic flat bottomed dish with lid
• Used primarily to culture microorganisms and cells

Spot Plate • ceramic or plastic reaction surface containing small wells for spot
tests
Test Tube Brush • tool with bristles mounted on a twisted galvanized wire, used to
clean narrow mouth laboratory glassware
Pinchcock • metal clamp used on a flexible tube to regulate the flow of a fluid
through the tube
Aspirator • vacuum source to draw liquids
Rubber Tubing • used as passage lines for fluids and gasses
Analytical Balance • accurate and precise instrument used to measure weight in
quantitative chemical analysis, measures mass within 0.0001g

Triple Beam Balance • utilizes a steel pan, beams and riders

 • AKA Buchner flask, vacuum flask, suction flask, side arm flask or
kitasato flask
Filtering Flask • It is a thick walled Erlenmayer flask with a short glass tube and hose
barb protruding from its neck
• Use: receive filtering liquid
Hot Plate • flat surfaced device used for controlled and consistent heating
pH Meter • electric device used to measure hydrogen – ion activity (acidity or
alkalinity) of a solution
Wash Bottle • squeezable bottle with nozzle. Used to dispense distilled water for
rinsing
Evaporating Dish • small bowl with a spout. Made of porcelain or borosilicate glass.
Used to evaporate excess solvents in a small sample