Introduction to the Science Laboratory

Introduction to Science apparatus

Lab Safety

The Science Laboratory

EVERYONE SHOULD

Identify key lab equipment.

Start to think about the importance of lab safety

Learning Objectives

The place where a scientist works is called a laboratory.

As students, you will carry out scientific investigations or experiments during science lessons in science laboratories

The Science Laboratory

We need to use apparatus to carry out our experiments.

The following slides show some common laboratory apparatus and their uses.

Scientific Apparatus

Test Tubes 13 x 100 mm test tubes

10 x 75 mm test tubes

Ignitiontube

Test tubes and

boiling tubes

Test Tube Holder

A test tube holder is useful for holding a test tube which is too hot to handle.

Test Tube BrushesTest tube brushes are used to clean test tubes and measuring cylinders.

Forcing a large brush into a small test tube will often break the tube.

Test Tube Racks

Test tube racks are for holding and organizing test tubes on the laboratory counter. Plastic racks may melt in contact with very hot test tubes.

Beaker

Beakers hold solids or liquids that will not release gases when reacted or are unlikely to splatter if stirred or heated.

Beaker

Erlenmeyer Flask (Conical flask)

Erlenmeyer flasks (conical flasks) hold solids or liquids that may release gases during a reaction or that are likely to splatter if stirred or heated.

Conical flask

Measuring Cylinder

A measuring cylinder is used to measure volumes of liquids.

Measuring cylinder

Rubber Stoppers

Rubber stoppers are used to close containers to avoid spillage or contamination.

Containers should never be heated when there is a stopper in place.

Watch Glass

A watch glass is used to hold a small amount of solid, such as the product of a reaction.

Glass Stir Rod

A glass rod is used to manually stir solutions. It can also be used to transfer a single drop of a solution.

Forceps

Forceps (or tweezers) are used to pick up small objects.

Bunsen burner

Funnel

A funnel is used to aid in the transfer of liquid from one vessel to another.

Filter paper and funnel

Pipettes

A pipette measures and delivers exact volumes of liquids.

Wash Bottle

A wash bottle has a spout that delivers a wash solution to a specific area. Distilled water is the only liquid that should be used in a wash bottle.

Bunsen Burner

Bunsen burners are used for the heating of nonvolatile liquids and solids.

Evaporating Dish

The evaporating dish is used for the heating of stable solid compounds and elements.

Crucible

Crucibles are used for heating certain solids, particularly metals, to very high temperatures.

Clay Triangle

The clay triangle is used as a support for porcelain crucibles when being heated over a Bunsen burner.

Universal clamp stand

Clamp stands are a safe and convenient way to perform reactions that require heating using a Bunsen burner.

Clamp

Utility clamps are used to secure test tubes, distillation columns, and burettes to the universal clamp stand.

Tripod and Wire gauze

Wire gauze sits on the tripod to provide a place to stand a beaker.

On older wire gauze, the white material is asbestos!

Tripod

and gauze

Hot Plate A hot plate is used to heat solids and liquids slowly, under safer

conditions than a Bunsen burner.

Electronic Mass Balance

Accurately measures masses of solids up to 0.01 grams

Cleaning BrushesCleans specific glassware Test tube brush Beaker brush Flask brush

Electronic Thermometer

Measures temperatures to ± 0.1 degree Celsius

Drawing and labelling more complicated

diagrams

Fully

labelled

Filtering – note lines ready for

labels

Yet more diagrams

Evaporating

STARTER ON SAFETY