Safety first with dropping funnels

Introduction:

As a field of study, chemistry is full of surprises and intense study. The professionals who are in this field only know how accurate, they need to be while working with their experiments. They not only have to plant properly, but also have to take care of each and everything that is around them. They work with various things, which are manufactured with the same accuracy and precision. Same is the case with the dropping funnel manufacturers. This specific apparatus is specifically useful in many processes and experiments which work as an ancillary process to many other experiments, as well.

The dropping funnel is just another chemistry lab apparatus for the people who are not using them, but the scientists know the real importance of this thing. This thing has many uses while performing various functions. In simple language, this funnel is used to pour down liquid from one container to another. But in this case, safety is a big concern, which is solved by the use of this funnel. There is an apparatus attached to this funnel which is known as stopcock. The function of this stopcock is to stop the flow of the fluid from one container to another in the middle of the process. It is specifically used while shifting hazardous chemicals as the process can be done with much safety. Because of this security reason only, it has won the trust of all the lab professionals who need to deal with such chemicals frequently.

Uses:

•             This funnel plays a very important role in the works which involve the use of hazardous chemicals. Many times these chemicals are needed to be transferred to some other place, which can be pretty dangerous with anything else, but with the help of this funnel it is possible to do this work.

•             Another use of this funnel is in those experiments in which a very controlled quantity of a chemical is required, and if the chemical is poured in excess, the whole experiment can turn out to be a big failure. The stopcock of this funnel helps to control the flow of the chemical.

There are many manufacturers that are dealing in these funnels. A person looking for a dropping funnel can look for these manufacturers on the internet where they are very easily available.

Shapes and sizes:

These funnels are available in various sizes in the market. What size of the funnel will be required will depend upon the function for which the user is going to use it and the quantity which will be transferred. The normal shapes of these funnels, which are easily available in the market, are pear shaped and conical shaped. Other types are cylindrical, which are often used in different types of experiments and these come in the graduated category. One can get these funnels in size which ranges from 50 to 1000ML. As the size of the dropping funnel changes, the size of the stopcock also changes.

Soxhlet Apparatus: Extract it easily

There are a number of facilities created by science, which has made life easy and comfortable.There are a number of equipments and instruments created by science, which have helped them to create more tools for an easy life. There are many tools, which help scientists to have ease in the process in the laboratory also. The Soxhlet Apparatus is one of such apparatus, which helps lab professionals in the extraction process in a chemical laboratory.This apparatus is used to extract solid elements of one type from another type of element. It can be better understood with its functionality in the lab, which helps in various chemical processes and experiments.

How was it invented?

The name of this apparatus is derived from its inventor Franz Von Soxhlet who accidentally invented it. The primary cause of this apparatus and function, is to extract the lipid elements from the solid material, which means if there is any lipid element in the solid, and if it is put through this extractor, it will be able to provide two different elements at the end of the process. With time, the usages of this apparatus are increased and now one can also separate solid elements from other solid elements. When it comes to extraction, one cannot think any other instrument than soxhlet that is the image of this apparatus in the world of chemistry and science.

The Procedure of extraction:

•     In case,  the components, which have very limited solubility in some of the solvents, then, the use of this apparatus is very much required. If the impurity of the chemical mixture is not soluble in the solvent, then this apparatus can separate two solid components, which is essential for the process.

•     The procedure of this apparatus is much easier to operate. One just needs to place desired solid material inside the apparatus. It is required to be wrapped in filler paper, which is later placed in the main chamber of the instrument. Then it is put on the flames with the solid element in it which will allow an extraction procedure. Then a condenser is used for the purpose of condensation.

•     Now this apparatus is heated on the flames which creates evaporation of a solid material and collection of it provides with solid material extracted from the material provided. When the chamber is filled with vapor which has solid material, dissolve the soluble part, and thus, collects the material.

•     Now, the vapors are condensed in the condenser of the extractor and the material which is dissolved is collected in it. The rest of the solvent moves back to the flask provided for it.

•     To get the desired result, the process is repeated several times. Nowadays, there are many other techniques used for extraction purpose, but this is the primary process, which has evolved as the basic method of all available extraction methods.

Single Neck Flask – an important apparatus of any laboratory

Every field of the profession has some specialty. There are specific terms and tools used by every profession and its professionals. Same is the case with laboratories. There are many different tools and instruments used in labs, which are called apparatus, and one of such apparatus is single neck flask. It is widely preferred by lab professionals due to its different usages, which make it worth to spend behind. This apparatus is specifically made of borosilicate glass, which is commonly used for making of different apparatus for laboratories. The round bottom of it makes it much useful for various processes and experiments of biology and chemistry.

The Formation:

The apparatus is of tubular shape and has a tip, which is popularly known as neck. There are different flasks available in sizes ranging from 5 ml to 2000 ml and these sizes are mentioned perfectly on the flask. Due to its round bottom shapes, there are stands made for keeping it and avoid its mishandling. This flask is made of inert borosilicate glass, which makes it stronger and heat resistant. During the use of flask, it is held in a clamp or stand.

Utility:

It is very well used for heating process of different chemicals. One can directly keep the flask on the heating lamp, and can complete the heating process. It is also used for the distillation process as a flask to receive the distillates. It is also having higher resistance to fracture happening in a vacuum, and the primary reason for it is its sphere, which allocates more stress over its surface than other parts. It can also be utilized as a drip after attaching dropping funnel to it. For the purpose of nucleation and slow boiling, this apparatus can be mixed with boiling chip also. This flask can be used for mixing processes, as well as, stirring processes. While application of it in a reflux process, usually condenser is fitted at the neck level of the flask.

How is it produced?

This apparatus is produced from quality borosilicate glass, which has best of the features to provide the best class quality glass across the competitors in the market. To produce this flask, the glass is provided heat with a high temperature, which helps to make it inert, and perfectly heat and cold resistant.  Thus, due to such qualities only, it can be used widely in different processes across the lab.

There are many apparatuses used in a laboratory but this flask has its special place across the line of different apparatus. This is due to its high quality and reliable results that it has gained much popularity across the world of laboratories, and become the preferred and first choice of different lab professionals. This flask is widely popular in chemistry, biology and pathology labs across the globe. The different utility of this flask has created immense importance of it in the laboratory so that no laboratory can be ever imagined without such flask.

Science and the Use of Borosilicate Glassware

Across the globe, one cannot find any laboratory without having different sorts of glass containers such as beaker, flasks, burettes, pipettes and what not. These are the most used glasswares in different processes and experiments in chemical, biological and pathology laboratories. There are various benefits of using Borosilicate glassware in these laboratories. The prime reason for the usage of this glassware is its crystal clear transparency, which is very much required and useful in different processes and experiments. No doubt, there are a lot of more benefits of using this glassware, but before knowing them all, it is very much required to understand the borosilicate glass.

How is it produced?

This glass is basically produced by the chemical process of silica and boron at a high temperature. After mixing different chemicals and processes, this glass is produced first in liquid form, and then, cooling of this liquid produces Borosilicate glass. It is known for different positives, which are very much required in the laboratory.

The advantages:

There are many advantages associated with other than mentioned before. Having the element of glass, it does not react with different chemicals filled in it, and so helps to provide the most accurate result of the experiment, as well as, the best result of a process. As it is made of glass, one can see the result and experiment through the container during the process and experiment, which helps the lab professional to intervene the process or experiment if required. Even in case of any severe variation, one can easily notice it and take necessary actions. This glass is majority inert to each material, and so it is highly reliable, however, the case is not same with hydrochloric acid.

There are many other specialties and positives of this glass:

•             Known for chemical resistance: Majority of the chemicals can be held in this glass container including chemicals with atomic radiation.  So it is considered as the safest for majority chemicals and contents.

•             This glass is also resistant to heat, and so if any chemical is required to provide heat, it can be given heat holding in any of the flask of Borosilicate glass as the heat cannot break the glass. In case, the glass is not having this property, it can break in the mid of the process of experiment or process and can be risky for the user.

•             This glass can be used equally for cooling purposes, as well. Many a times one needs to cool the chemicals and hold them. So in such case also, these containers made of Borosilicate glass are equally useful.

This glass has many such benefits, which have made it equally popular among the lab professionals and people who deal with it. These qualities are primary drivers of its popularity and demand. Because of these qualities, this glassware has got such a position in the laboratory that cannot be changed easily by any other material.