Lab Equipment and
Safety Procedures
Yes, you should take notes!
Beaker
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Used to measure approximate
liquid volumes
Beakers are the most versatile glassware in
the lab and can be used for just about
anything. The volume graduations on
beakers should be used only for "ballpark"
estimates.
A cylinder container used to hold liquids
Clamp
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Used to close hoses by pinching them
together
Used during filtrations
Clamps rubber tubing to stop the flow of
liquid
Wire Gauze
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Used as a support for beakers when placed
across a support ring
Allows for more even and gradual heating
of glassware
Test Tube
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Measures small amounts of liquids
Come in different lengths and widths to
serve various needs. They are typically
used by chemists to hold different
materials, usually liquids, during chemical
experiments
Test Tube Holder
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Used to hold test tubes for short periods of
"gentle" heating
Use a test tube
holder to grasp
hot test tubes
Tongs
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These tongs are used for picking up
crucibles and crucible covers
Used to carry an evaporating dish
May also be
used to hold a
piece of Mg
when igniting it
Bunsen Burner
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Before lighting, check to be sure barrel is turned
so no oxygen is getting to flame
Rubber tubing attaches to gas valve
Adjust flame height after lit
Gas valve perpendicular=OFF
Gas valve parallel=ON
Tie back hair and loose clothing
TURN OFF WHEN NOT BEING USED
Used for heating, sterilization, and combustion
Striker/Sparker
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Used to light a bunsen burner
Not a toy noisemaker or “sparkler” during
lab
Hot Plate
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Plug into electrical outlet
TURN OFF AND UNPLUG WHEN NOT IN
USE
Increase hotplate temperature slowly so
glass does not burst
Used to heat liquids in glass beakers,
Erlenmeyer flasks, and metal pans
Ring Stand
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The base supporting the iron ring
Test Tube Rack
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Device to hold test tubes in place while you
can't hold them
Divots for holding test tubes in upright
position
Pegs for drying of test tubes in upside
down position
Beaker Tongs
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Large, curved tongs
Special tongs used for handling hot
glassware
Know
the proper
way to
use beaker
tongs
Stirring Rod
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Glass – used for stirring in beakers and
flasks
Used to aide in dissolving a solute in a
solvent, mixing
Be sure to wash before using to mix
different mixtures – you could cause
contamination
Wash Bottle
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Used for rinsing solids out of a container
when filtering
Filled with distilled water
Plastic, with plastic straw
Squeeze gently to rinse
glassware
Evaporating Dish
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This dish is used to recover dissolved
solids by evaporation. While it can be
heated, it should not be used for "strong"
heating.
Heat gently to avoid spattering
Dropper
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Can be glass with rubber bulb on end or plastic
(disposable)
Squeeze air out of bulb
Place end in liquid and release rubber bulb to fill
dropper with liquid
To dispense, squeeze bulb gently
RINSE THOROUGHLY BETWEEN THE
TRANSFER OF DIFFERING CHEMICALS TO
ELIMINATE CONTAMINATION
Funnel
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When lined with filter paper, used to filter
suspended solids from a liquid.
Used for filtration
Filter paper- fold in half, fold in half again, open
b/w 1 and 3, place in filter
Slightly dampen filter with solvent to hold in place
tube with a conical opening that is used to pour
liquid through a smaller opening
Filtration Setup
Scoopula
(Yes, this is a real scientific term!)
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Used to transfer solids from their original
container to a scale for weighing
A utensil used primarily in chemistry labs to
transfer solids: to a weigh paper for
weighing, to a cover slip to measure
melting point, or to a watch glass from a
flask or beaker through scraping
Iron Ring
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When attached to the ring stand, this iron
ring is used to support glassware above the
lab table
Supports beakers on the ring stand so that
they may be heated
Erlenmeyer Flask
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Is a widely used type of laboratory
flask which has a conical base with a
cylindrical neck
It is used to contain reaction solutions.
Used in filtrations and distillations
Rubber Stopper
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Holds thermometer in place while
measuring temperature
Used to seal glassware to prevent
contaminants from entering
Graduated Cylinder
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Water is polar, glass is polar. The water “sticks” to the
glass and causes the liquid being measured to look like
a ‘u’ (meniscus)
Read from bottom of MENISCUS
A tall glass cylinder with a range of calibrated markings
that is used for visually MEASURING THE VOLUMES
OF LIQUIDS
PLASTIC COLLAR USED TO READ MEASUREMENT
OF LIQUID
Used to make accurate measurements of liquid
volumes. The bumper ring on larger cylinders is to
prevent breakage if tipped over. Keep it near the top.
Well Plate
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Plastic, several wells
Used for microchemistry
Use droppers to transfer liquids
Timer
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Keep track of how long it takes a reaction
to take place
Measure in seconds
Thermometer
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Measures temperature, glass tube with
alcohol or mercury
CBL, electrical temperature gauge. Place
gauge in liquid and get a digital readout.
CBL will not break as easily
Hot Glove
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Move hot items
Big, orange
Safety Glasses
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Must be on at ALL times during a lab - not
just when your teacher patiently reminds
you 
Found in drawers at lab stations
Triple Beam Balance
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Measures mass – amount of matter in an object
Matter – takes up space
Be sure all weights are pushed completely to the left
Start with highest weight and work your way down
You want the beam to balance in the middle of the arm
Weighing paper – zero with paper on plate, measure
from there (begin with too little, easier to add more)
Watch Glass
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A circular, slightly concave piece of glass
used in chemistry as a surface to evaporate
a liquid, or as a cover for a beaker
Cleaning Brushes
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Used to clean glassware
Do NOT poke the wire brush into bottom of
glassware – it will break
Ceramic Triangle
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Place on iron ring to hold funnel
Used for heating or cooling evaporating
dish
Used to hold a crucible while the crucible is
heated
Proper Setup for the Heating of a
Crucible
A Few extra reminders…
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Kill jar – labeled container for disposing of
chemicals that cannot be rinsed down the sink
If you have extra reagent, do NOT return to
container. This will cause CONTAMINATION of
the entire container. Dispose of it properly.
If glassware is broken at your lab station, please
CALL YOUR TEACHER. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
CLEAN IT UP YOURSELF!
Safety Procedures
Please COPY and KNOW these!!
1. Wear safety glasses at all times in the laboratory.
2. Wear sensible clothing.
3. Do not perform any unauthorized experiments.
4. Know exactly what you are supposed to be doing in a laboratory
experiment.
5. Do not eat or drink in the laboratory.
6. Keep the laboratory clean at all times.
7. Dispose of waste and excess materials in the proper manner.
8. Light bunsen burners only when needed.
9. Avoid touching hot objects.
10. Report all accidents to your instructor promptly!