Activity No.

4
BASIC LABORATORY TECHNIQUES

INTRODUCTION

One of the requirements in performing various laboratory experiments is to

know the basic techniques in order to properly use the different laboratory apparatus.
Simple techniques can be helpful to successfully realize different scientific researches
and the knowledge these techniques is a plus when performing or innovating scientific
procedures or methods.

Proper technique in using different laboratory apparatus is a must to maximize

the function without risking the precision of these apparatus.

Different techniques such as reading a balance, volume measurement, filtration,

decantation, evaporation, and proper pipetting techniques together with the orientation
of the different terms frequently used in the laboratory will be discussed in this activity
to help students familiarize and perform the succeeding experiments with ease and
confidence.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this activity, the students shall be able to:

1. Perform basic laboratory techniques such as how to use a laboratory balance,

volume measurement, filtration, decantation, evaporation, and proper
pipetting techniques; and
2. Set-up materials for proper laboratory techniques.

CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS

Chemicals Materials

salt triple beam balance stirring rod aspirator

sand top loading balance evaporating dish- 2 wash bottle
distilled water watch glass bunsen burner funnel
graduated cylinder (25 mL) wire gauze iron ring
beaker (250 mL) - 1 pipette (15 mL) iron stand
Erlenmeyer flask (250 mL) beaker (150 mL)-3 filter paper
crucible tong

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PROCEDURE

A. Laboratory Balance

A laboratory balance is used to determine the weight of an object. There

are at least three types of balance used in the laboratory name (a) Triple Beam
Balance, (b) Top Loading Balance, and (c) Analytical Balance all of which differ
in design and in their level of accuracy as shown below (see Fig. 1). There are two
types of weighing techniques that comes in handy when performing laboratory
experiments namely: (1) Direct Weighing and the (2) Indirect Weighing or
Weighing by difference.

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 Rider
Measurement Tray Riders beam
Pointer

Zero mark

Adjustment
knob
Stainless
(a) Triple Beam Balance
steel Pan

LED display
screen
Level bulb adjust
Power/tare level
button
(b) Top Loading Balance
Three Glass
doors

Stainless
steel Pan
Level bulb
Power/Tare button
adjust
Balance
level
(c) Analytical Balance

Figure 1. The different laboratory balances and their parts.

A.1 Direct Weighing

1. Place the watch glass in the triple beam balance and re-zero/tare the balance.
2. Place a 5 peso coin, prepared by the instructor, on the watch glass.
3. Obtain the weight of the coin by reading the calibration of the balance and
record the data on the Data Sheet.
4. Repeat steps 1 – 3 but this time using the Top Loading Balance
and Analytical Balance using the same coin

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 5. Compare data for the three balances.

A.2 Indirect Weighing or Weighing by Difference

1. Place the watch glass in the triple beam balance and record the weight of the
watch glass and label as Wt. of watch glass.
2. Place a 5 p e s o coin on the watch glass.
3. Obtain the weight of the coin by reading the calibration, label this data as
Wt. of watch glass + Wt. of Coin.
4. Record the data on the Data sheet. The weight of the coin is the difference
between the Wt. of watch glass + Wt. of Coin and Wt. of watch glass.
5. Repeat steps 1 – 4 but this time using the Top Loading Balance and
Analytical Balance using the same coin.
6. Compare data for the three balances.
B. Graduated Cylinder
A graduated cylinder is a cylindrical glass with a flat base bottom with
calibrations indicating the volume of the liquid being measured.

Fig 2. Graduated Cylinder

1. Measure 15 mL of distilled water using a 25-mL graduated cylinder.

2. Read the volume of the liquid by observing the lower meniscus as shown
below. Make sure to do an eye level reading of the lower meniscus.

Improper

X
Proper

X
Improper

3. Allow each member of the group to participate in the reading of the meniscus.
4. Repeat steps 1 – 3 but this time using the distilled water provided by the
instructor.
5. Record the volume of the water in the Data Sheet.

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C. Pipette Reading
A pipette is a cylindrical glassware with a narrow tip (with or without
calibrations) is used for extracting and dispensing known volume of liquid with
high precision and accuracy. Pipettes are used together with aspirator or a
safety bulb to vacuum the desired amount of liquid up to the pipette from the
solution.
Measuring pipette

Aspirator

Volumetric
pipette
Micropipette

Figure 3. Pipetting apparatus.

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1. Report to the instructor before proceeding to this activity. This activity is a
graded demonstration. Read the instructions prior to performing the activity.
2. Using a measuring pipette and an aspirator, pipette 15-mL of distilled water
from a beaker using the proper pipetting technique as shown below.

Step 2. Wipe the

Step 1. Pipette pipette (avoid
volume more than
the desired volume

3. Adjust the meniscus of the liquid by slowly releasing the forefinger from the top
of the pipette as shown below.

Step 3. Adjust the

meniscus using
the forefinger

4. Dispense the desired volume of the liquid by releasing the forefinger on top of
the pipette in to a 250mL Erlenmeyer flask.

Step 4. Dispense
liquid into the
intended vessel

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 5. Repeat steps 2 – 4 until all the members of the group had performed this
activity.

D. Basic Separation Techniques: Filtration, Decantation, Evaporation

Filtration is a simple technique used to separate heterogeneous mixtures

such as liquids and solids (e.g. sand + water) by passing the heterogeneous solution
into a semi-permeable barrier such as Lenin or cloth. This method allows separation
of fine substances and is a very common technique for extraction and purification
processes. The most widely used semi-permeable barrier is the Filter paper. There
are different types of filter paper based on their quality or pore size ranging from
11µm to 2µm pore size. Shown below is the set-up of a common filtration process.

Iron stand

Glass Funnel

Iro n ring

Beaker

Figure 4. Filtration Set-up.

Decantation, on the other hand, is another process of separation which is

much simpler in terms of set-up and materials used as compared to filtration.
Here the heterogeneous mixture (e.g. solid + liquid) is separated by allowing the
denser component to suspend at the bottom of the solution before separation as
shown below.

. . . . .. ... ... .. .
. .. ... .. . . .. ... .. .
. . . . .

Heterogeneous mixture Allow to settle

Decant solution
insoluble solute
using a stirring rod

Figure 5. Decantation process.

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 Evaporation is a type of vaporization that occurs on the surface of the
liquid when the liquid changes its phase to a gaseous phase at the liquids boiling
point. Evaporation is also classified as another type of separation technique for
separating the solute from a homogeneous solution (e.g. salt from salt solution).
Shown below is the set-up for the evaporation process.

Iron stand

Figure 6.
Evaporation Set-up.

Iron ring
Wire gauze

Bunsen burner

1. Using an analytical balance weigh 0.10xx g of table salt and 1.00xx g of sand in
a 150 mL beaker. Transfer 20 mL of mineral water and stir to dissolve the salt.
Prepare two solutions and label “sample 1” and “sample 2”.
2. Follow the filtration set-up as shown in Figure 4.
3. Create a paper cone using an ordinary filter paper following the instructions
below. Fit the paper cone into the filter funnel.

* * *

Tear this part

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4. Obtain the weight of the evaporating dish using a analytical balance and
record in the Data Sheet as Wt. Evap. dish.
5. Filter the sand in “sample 1” into a pre-weighed evaporating dish. The filtered
solution in the evaporating dish is called the filtrate while the sand stuck in
the filter paper is called the residue.
6. Using the set-up in figure 6, heat the filtrate until the solution dries up and
salt crystals appear.
7. Cool the evaporating dish with salt crystals salts for about 2-3 minutes.
8. Weigh the evaporating dish with salt crystals in the same analytical balance
and record in the Data Sheet as Wt. Evap. Dish + Wt. of Salt final.
9. The weight of recovered salt after filtration will be the difference of Wt. Evap.
Dish. + Wt. of Salt final and Wt. Evap. Dish.
10. Collect the salt crystals in the evaporating dish and place it into the salt
container.
11. Allow the sand to settle at the bottom of the beaker of sample 2 before decantation.
12. Obtain the weight of the evaporating dish using the same analytical balance and
record in the Data Sheet as Wt. Evap. Dish
13. Decant “sample 2” directly into the dried evaporating dish separate the sand
and the solution as shown in figure 5.
14. Heat the decanted solution until the solution dries up and salt crystals
appear.
15. Repeat steps 7 – 10 and make sure to record all the necessary data on the
Data Sheet.

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