Basic Lab Tools

Question 1

Beaker

Answer 1

Hold solids or liquids that
- Will not release gases when reacted or
- Are unlikely to splatter if stirred or heated.

Question 2

Erlenmeyer Flask

Answer 2

Hold solids or liquids that
- May release gases during a reaction or
- Likely to splatter if stirred or heated.

Question 3

Florence Flask

Answer 3

• Used for the mixing of chemicals.
• Narrow neck prevents splash exposure.

Question 4

Graduated Cylinder

Answer 4

Used to measure volumes of liquids.

Question 5

Gas Collecting Bottle

Answer 5

Used when
- Large volumes of gases are produced, and
- Must be collected by the displacement of water.

Question 6

Test Tubes

Answer 6

Simple tool for storing liquids.

Question 7

Test Tube Holder

Answer 7

Holds a test tube that is too hot to handle

Question 8

Test Tube Brushes

Answer 8

• Cleans test tubes and graduated cylinders
• Forcing a large brush into a small test tube will often break the tube.

Question 9

Test Tube Racks

Answer 9

• Hold and organize test tubes on a lab table.
• Plastic racks may melt in contact with very hot test tubes.

Question 10

Rubber Stoppers

Answer 10

• Closes containers to avoid spillage or contamination.
• Containers should never be heated when there is a stopper in place.

Question 11

Spot Plates

Answer 11

Used when performing many small scale reactions at one time.

Question 12

Watch Glass

Answer 12

• Holds a small amount of solid
• Ex: The product of a reaction

Question 13

Glass Stir Rod

Answer 13

• Used to manually stir solutions.
• Can be used to transfer a single drop of a solution.

Question 14

Medicine Dropper

Answer 14

• Transfers a small volume of liquid (less than one mL).
• On top of each medicine dropper is a “rubber bulb”

Question 15

Litmus Paper

Answer 15

• Red: Identifies bases
• Blue: Identifies acids

Question 16

Forceps (or tweezers)

Answer 16

Used to pick up small objects.

Question 17

Funnel

Answer 17

Aids in the transfer of liquid from one vessel to another.

Question 18

Graduated (Mohr) Pipette

Answer 18

Measures and delivers exact volumes of liquids.

Question 19

Wash Bottle

Answer 19

• Has a spout that delivers a wash solution to a specific area.
• Distilled water is the only liquid to be in a wash bottle.

Question 20

Weighing Boat

Answer 20

Used to weigh solids that will be transferred to another vessel.

Question 21

Spatulas

Answer 21

• Used to dispense solid chemicals from their containers.
• Chemicals should never be transferred with bare hands.

Question 22

Beaker Tongs

Answer 22

Used to move beakers containing hot liquids

Question 23

Bunsen Burner

Answer 23

Used for the heating of non-volatile liquids and solids.

Question 24

Evaporating Dish

Answer 24

Used for the heating of stable solid compounds and elements.

Question 25

Crucible

Answer 25

Used for heating certain solids (esp. metals) to very high temperatures.

Question 26

Clay Triangle

Answer 26

Supports porcelain crucibles when they're being heated over a bunsen burner.

Question 27

Crucible Tongs

Answer 27

- For handling hot crucibles; also used to pick up other hot objects - NOT to be used for picking up beakers!

Question 28

Glass Plates

Answer 28

- Provide a surface for semi-micro scale experiments - Ex: Drop reactions, testing of acids and bases.

Question 29

Triangular File

Answer 29

Used primarily to cut glass rod

Question 30

Ring stands

Answer 30

Safe, convenient way of performing reactions that require heating using a Bunsen burner.

Question 31

Iron Rings (ring stand)

Answer 31

- Connect to a ring stand - Provide a stable, elevated platform for the reaction.

Question 32

Utility Clamps (ring stand)

Answer 32

Used to secure test tubes, distillation columns, and burets to the ring stand.

Question 33

Double Buret Clamps (ring stand)

Answer 33

Used to clamp burets

Question 34

Burette

Answer 34

Long graduated tubes used in titration.

Question 35

Wire Gauze (ring stand)

Answer 35

Sits on the iron ring to provide a place to stand a beaker.

Question 36

Pressed Fiber Pad

Answer 36

- 4” x 4” square of ceramic fiber - Provides a surface for hot beakers - Beaker will not come in contact with a cold countertop and shatter

Question 37

Strikers

Answer 37

- Used to light Bunsen burners. - Flints on strikers are expensive. Do not operate the striker repeatedly just to see the sparks!

Question 38

Safety Data Sheet (SDS) - 4 most important sections

Answer 38

- Hazard identification - First-aid measures - Handling and storage - Exposure controls/personal protection