Volumetric Flask: Standard Laboratory Flask

Volumetric flask is one of the important equipment of laboratory glassware and is also known as a measuring flask or graduated flask. These flasks are flat at bottom space and pears in shape used to measure the volume of a liquid at a particular temperature. It has got a graduation marking on the neck which is narrow and elongated in shape to measure the volume of a liquid when it’s filled up. It can be available of various sizes starting from 1ml to 10000ml as per the requirement of process or experiment. It comes in various shapes but majorly used is narrow neck. It also contains a cap or stopper at its top of the neck.

Volumetric flask is an important apparatus used in laboratory to measure the level of liquid to be used for various processes and so has gained importance in laboratory as its accuracy is reliable. It is available in different shape and size depending upon the requirement of process. It has a high resistance capacity to high and low temperature, is non chemical reactive, transparent and can withstand with high thermal stress and also has high durability characteristics.

Volumetricflasks are utilized for preparing of chemical solutions, mixing of two or three chemicals and measuring of partial or full volumetric pressure and vacuum pressure of a liquid, holding of liquid, cooling, heating and dissolving of liquid by the various types of industries like hospitals, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, petrochemicals, life science research sections, environmental and geological research organizations.

Chemistry Glassware: Delicacy means

Each type of chemistry glassware has different functions and properties. It should be resistant to chemical attack, withstand sterilization, and need to measure specific volume, need to resist extreme temperature. It includes beakers, boiling flasks, burettes, funnels, pipettes, conical flasks, cylindrical flasks etc. To resist glass from breaking chemical need to be cool down or should be heated. So mostly they are made out of borosilicate such as Pyrex or Kimax which are more durable compared to ordinary glass. All chemistry glassware should be cleaned immediately after the usage.

The chemistryglassware is mainly used in laboratories and chemical companies. The peculiar characteristics required by these professionals are its transparency and heat and cold resistance. If you utilize it in specified manner it is easy to handle and maintain. Glassware are used in lab due to its utility in processes like mixing, separation, extraction, filtration etc. It is also not a good idea to dry the glassware using cotton cloth or other fabric because this may bring impurities and fibers and may destroy the chemical solution. It is better to leave it to dry by itself. If there is no time and you need to use it immediately it is a better to rinse two or three times with acetone. This will remove water and help to evaporate immediately. All glassware should be grease free because this will not help the glassware to be uniformly cleaned .When you are using or cleaning it; it is always advisable to wear gloves and eye protectors.

Three-way Stop Cock – Important apparatus for laboratories

Would you ever believe that a valve with three outlets allow the fluids to flow out of only a single outlet? Yes it is true and such an apparatus is known as three-way stopcock.

A stopcock is a valve used to control the flow of liquid or gases through a tube; it is also used to prevent excess water flow in a domestic water system. Such stopcocks are prepared from glass and rubber. Formation of a three-way stopcock is just similar to an ordinary tap. In a three-way stopcock, the cock is sensitive to direction of flow. It is made in such a way that there is a main tube with a small hole which is attached to another three different tubes arranged perpendicularly to each other. The main tube can be rotated in all the directions, which allows the fluid to pass out through different outlets in required amount. Such three-way stopcock is mainly used in laboratories and domestic water supply. Three-way stopcock is very much useful to mix the correct substance with other substance in properly required amount. But it is of utmost importance that you should know how to use it in a laboratory to get the desired results because a little negligence can alter the result of the experiments.

Such stop cocks have multiple uses as mentioned above. Besides, three-way stopcock also helps the work to be completed in less time. While using Three-way stopcock, no extra care is required and it can be easily transferred to other places as well.

Soxhlet apparatus: Extracting the insoluble impurity

Have you ever been to a scientific laboratory and seen the exotic equipment in the laboratories looking like the articles of embellishments? If you are not a person dealing with the science or scientific experiments, the talk matters little to you. But for a scientist or a person dealing with scientific laboratory would respect the value they have in bringing about astounding miracles in the field of science and technology. Soxhlet apparatus is equipment in the scientific laboratory that is used to extract the insoluble impurity from the solvents. It was invented in 1879 by Franz Von Soxhlet and the name soxhlet apparatus honors the inventor. Originally it was designed to extract lipids from solid material but with the passage to time its use has taken different dimensions.

Soxhlet apparatus made of glass material and is a combination of thimble made from filter paper, flask, chamber, condenser etc and through the support of heating it makes the distillation process possible. When a desired compound has a limited solubility in a solvent the soxhlet apparatus is used. By heating the solvent it is vaporized which travels up a distillation arm and moves into the chamber and through the use of condenser it is condensed here.

Soxhlet apparatus is used for a particular purpose and therefore its use in the laboratory is not as frequent as the other equipment like test tubes, pipettes etc. But no equipment can replace its use and as it is the combination of different parts it needs to be handled with care.

Graduated Pipette – for perfect results

The graduated pipette is a higher version of the medicine dropper or an eye dropper. This is important laboratory equipment as it is used for the purpose of measuring and also transferring particular volume of the liquids, chemicals, reagents and fluids. The pipette has an important role to play in different types of laboratory procedures, clinical examinations, medical tests and also scientific experiments. The most commonly used pipette are – micropipettes, multi-channel pipette device, automated pipette device, Pasteur pipette, graduated pipettes and Zepto liter pipetting devices. The Graduated Pipette is also known as the Mohr pipette. The pipette got its name after the well-known pharmacist of the 19^th century Mr. Karl Friedrich Mohr. He had created this pipette in order that he could transfer particular amount of liquid while doing various experiments.

The Graduated Pipettes are very narrow and made of calibrated glass tubes. They are used to measure and also to transfer a particular liquid or fluid from one place to another. This pipette is very similar to the graduated cylinder. This pipette has many graduated lines made on it at regular intervals. These lines on the pipette help the lab technician to take the reagents or the liquid in proper measurement. The graduated apparatus in the laboratory provide very accurate results as compared to other types of normal pipette. These devices are generally open at one end so that the fluids, reagents or the liquids can be easily inserted into the pipette. This also allows the user to perform the experiment with ease.