Laboratory Equipment in Chemistry

Type Code: M=Measurement G=Glassware H=Heating C=Construction O=Other S=Safety

Name / Type / Description/Uses / Picture
Meterstick & Ruler / M / Measuring Distances, Lengths, Etc.
Stopwatch & Clock / M / Measuring Time
Graduated Cylinder / M, G / Measures Volume of Liquids, and small solid objects by water displacement
Buret / M, G / Measures Volume of Liquids used in a Chemical Reaction
Pipet / M, G / Measures Volume of Liquids for Transfer to Another Container
Balance / M / Measures Mass (NOT WEIGHT!)
Either Electronic or Triple-Beam
Thermometer / M, G / Measures Temperature
Spring Scale / M / Measures Weights & Forces
Volumetric Flask / M, G / Measures Accurate Volumes of Solutions
Test Tubes / G, H / Holds liquids and solids for reactions, heating, or storage
Beakers / G, H / Holds liquids and solids for reactions, heating, or storage
Erlenmeyer Flask / G, H / Holds liquids for reaction and heating. Easier to mix by spinning
Florence Flask / G, H / Holds liquids for boiling
Glass Stir-rod / G / Used to stir liquids. Only the glass end, rubber end stops from rolling
Glass Plate / G / Used to cover containers
Watch Glass / G / Used to observe small reactions or cover containers
Gas Collection Bottle / G / Collect gases by water displacement
Also called wide-mouth bottles
Reagent Bottle / G / Container for strong, concentrated chemicalsolutions
Glass Funnel / G / To transfer liquids to other containers or for holding filter paper in filtrations.
Medicine Dropper / G / Used to add or remove small amounts of liquids
Glass Tubing / G / Used to connect different equipment for transfer of gases and liquids
Burner / H / Used to generate heat. The temperature of the flame is in excess of 1,000ºC (1,800ºF).
Hot Plate / H / Used to heat without a flame. Some can also stir by spinning magnets.
Striker / H / Ignites Burner flame
Evaporating Dish / H / Wide dish that is used to heat chemicals, usually to dry them.
Wire Gauze / H / Wire mesh used to provide a platform for heating glassware.
Triangle / H / Ceramic triangle used to hold crucibles while heating
Crucible & Cover / H / Ceramic bowl that holds small amounts of chemicals for extreme heating
Ring Stand / C / Metal Rod and Base for holding clamps and other equipment for various experimental set-ups
O—Ring / C / Clamp that can be used to hold other equipment for experiments
Test Tube Clamp / C / Clamp that has jaws for holding a Test Tube to a ring stand.
Test Tube Holder / C / Clamp that can be held by hand for heating and moving test tubes
Crucible Tongs / C / Allows the movement of a crucible to other places, use when crucible is hot
Beaker Tongs / C / Allows the movement of beakers to other places, use when beaker is hot
Scoop / C / Used to “scoop” up larger amounts of chemicals
Spatula / C / Used to move very small amounts of chemicals
Forceps / C / Used to manipulate very small things. Not tweezers.
Triangular File / O / Used to scratch glass tubing to break and manipulate glass tubing
Stoppers / O / Cover narrow openings of test tubes and flasks, some have holes for tubing or thermometers
Mortar & Pestle / O / Used to pulverize chemicals in large crystals to increase surface area by forming smaller particles
Test Tube Rack / O / Holds and stores test tubes. Also has posts to dry test tubes.
Test Tube Brush / O / Used to clean out test tubes
Rubber Tubing & Plastic Tubing / O / Used to connect burners to gas outlets, and connect to glass tubing
Pneumatic Trough / O / Used to hold water and bottles for gas collection
Plastic Wash Bottle / O / Holds distilled or deionized water for washing and cleaning glassware

Experimental Set-Ups:

  1. General Heating with a burner, ring-stand and O-ring:
  2. Gas Collection
  3. Distillation
  4. Simple Chromatography
  5. Pipet Bulb Function
  6. Titration