Laboratory Equipment Pictures and Descriptions of Chemistry Equipment Used in the Laboratory

Beaker Glass or plastic Common sizes are 50 mL, 100 mL, 250 mL, 400 mL, 600 mL Glass beakers can be heated, plastic cannot Beakers are only used for measuring approximate volumes

Beaker Tongs Metal with plastic covering Used to pick up hot beakers Should not be held over a flame or the plastic will melt

Bunsen Burner Constructed of metal Connected to a gas supply with rubber tubing Used to heat chemicals in beakers, test tubes, and crucibles

Clay Triangle Wire frame with porcelain supports It can be used to support a crucible if it is placed on a iron ring

Crucible & Cover Porcelain Used to heat small amounts of solid substances at high temperatures

Crucible Tongs Iron or Nickel Used to pick up and hold small items (such as crucibles and their lids)

Dropper Pipet Glass tip with rubber bulb Used to transfer small volumes of liquid

Electronic Balance Used for measuring the mass of chemicals and objects less than 400 grams Chemicals and hot glassware should never be placed directly on the balance

Erlenmeyer Flask Glass Common sizes are 50 mL, 125 mL and 250 mL May be heated Can be used as a reaction vessel such as in a titration

Evaporating Dish Porcelain Used to contain small volumes of liquid being evaporated

Flint Striker Metal with magnesium flint Used to light a Bunsen burner

Forceps Metal Used to hold or pick up small objects

Four Beam Balance Used for measuring the mass of chemicals and small objects Usually a four beam balance can more accurately find masses than a three beam (platform) balance

Funnel Glass or plastic Common size holds 12.5 cm diameter filter paper Can be used for separating mixtures

Graduated Cylinder Glass or plastic Common sizes are 10 mL, 50 mL, and 100 mL Used to measure the volume of a liquid Must not be heated and reactions should not be done in the graduated cylinder

Grease or Wax Pencil Wax marking pencil Used to write on glassware

Mortar and Pestle Porcelain May be used to grind crystals and lumpy chemicals to a powder

Nichrome Wire Glass or metal rod with a nichrome wire attached Used for conducting flame tests

Petri Dish & Cover Glass top and bottom Used for examining specimens

Platform Balance Sometimes also referred to as a triple beam balance Used for measuring the mass of chemicals and small objects

Policeman Plastic Used to remove precipitates from glassware

Ring Clamp Metal Can be attached to a ring stand to support beakers or other glassware

Ring Stand Metal rod fixed upright in a heavy metal base Has many uses as a support

Safety Goggles Plastic Must be worn at all times while working in the laboratory

Scoopula or Microspatula Metal Used to transfer solid chemicals The scoopula has a larger capacity

Stirring Rod Glass rod Used to stir and assist in pouring liquids

Test Tubes Glass Common sizes : small (13 mm x 100 mm) medium (20 mm x 150 mm) large (25 mm x 200 mm) May be heated Should not be used if chipped or cracked

Test Tube Brush Bristles with wire handle Used to scrub small diameter glassware (like test tubes)

Test Tube Clamp Metal Can be attached to a ring stand to hold small diameter glassware

Test Tube Holder Spring metal Used to hold test tubes or glass tubing

Test Tube Rack Wood or plastic Holds test tubes in a vertical position

Triangular File Metal Used to scratch glass tubing prior to breaking to desired length

Wash Bottle Flexible plastic Should only be filled with distilled water Used to rinse chemicals from glassware

Watch Glass Glass Used to cover an evaporating dish or beaker

Wire Gauze Metal with asbestos center Used to spread the heat of a Bunsen burner

Utility Tongs Metal Used for picking up hot objects