Lab Apparatus

• Common apparatus


  • Beaker
  • Test tube
  • Thermometer
• Beaker


  A flat-bottomed, cylindrical piece of glassware used for mixing and heating compounds
• Test tube


  Cylindrical open-topped piece of glassware that comes in varying sizes to hold small amounts of liquid
• Thermometer


  Used to measure temperatures. Thermometers generally contain liquid mercury.
• Common apparatus


  • Stirring rod
  • Bunsen burner
  • Measuring cylinder
• Stirring rod


  A glass rod used for stirring while dissolving solids in liquids
• Bunsen burner


  Attached to a gas line and lit to provide heat for experiments
• Measuring cylinder


  Used to measure large volumes but with less accuracy
• Each apparatus has its own accuracy and precision. Therefore the selection of an accurate apparatus is vital when collecting data.
• Measuring volumes


  • Burette
  • Pipette
  • Measuring cylinder
• Burette


  Measures variable volumes up to 0.1cm³
• Pipette


  Measures fixed volumes accurately, 5ml, 10ml, 25ml
• Measuring cylinder


  Measures large volumes quickly but less accurate
• Measuring temperature


  • Mercury in glass thermometer
  • Digital thermometer
• Mercury in glass thermometer


  Measures temperatures up to 1˚C
• Digital thermometer


  Measures temperatures up to 2 decimal places
• Measuring pH


  • pH paper
  • pH meter
• pH paper


  Measures pH in 1 value (colour)
• pH meter


  Measures pH up to 2 decimal places accurately
• Measuring mass


  • Triple beam balance
  • Electronic balance
• Triple beam balance


  Measures mass up to 4 decimal places
• Electronic balance


  Measures mass but less accurate