LABORATORY WARE

Laboratory equipment
Most basic laboratory equipment is made of glass so one can easily see what is
happening inside. Beakers are probably most commonly used; their wide mouth and
spouts make it very easy to transfer solutions from one beaker to another. Other pieces
of common equipment include the spatula (for small amounts of solid), thermometer,
funnels, and droppers (Figure 1).
Graduated cylinders
Graduated cylinders (see Figure 28) are
used to measure volume. They are the most
commonly used devices for volume
measurement in the lab because of their
accuracy, speed and ease of use. NEVER use
TEST TUBES the graduations on a beaker for volume
FUNNEL
measurements; its accuracy is not sufficient for
laboratory use. Before we begin, it is important
to note that graduated cylinders are to be used
for measuring volume only. NEVER use the
graduated cylinder to mix reagents or to heat a
substance.
WEIGHING With a liquid in the graduated cylinder,
BOTTLE always read the bottom (or top) of the
meniscus. A meniscus is a curvature to the
GRADUATED liquid caused by intermolecular forces
CYLINDER between the liquid and the glass. If you have
attractive forces between the glass and the
liquid, such as water, the liquid will “creep up”
BEAKER the sides of the glass slightly to cause the
normal downward curvature. If these forces
are repulsive, then the liquid will not move up
DROPPERS
along the walls as far as the liquid, creating an
Figure 28. Laboratory ware
inverted meniscus. Always look past the wall
of the glass, and read the volume of the center
of the liquid.