Identifying Equipment
Test tube rack
• Used to hold a test tube in an upright position
• May contains holes to fit test tube through or
pegs that will surround test tube
• Often contains pegs used to dry a clean test
tube by turning it upside down.
Test tube clamp
• Used to hold test tube particularly when
heating or working with corrosive chemicals.
• Squeeze the handle to open the clamp
• Rounded clamp should fit securely around test
tube
Graduated cylinder
• Used to measure a specific volume of a liquid
• Comes in a variety of sizes and scales. Always
choose the g. cylinder of the appropriate size
and scale for your measurement.
• Often glass—be ware of breakage
• Used with liquids—appropriate safety wear
required to guard against splashes
Beaker
• Often used to store, mix or heat substances
• When volume markings are present, they are
inaccurate.
• Named for the pouring spout at top which
resembles a bird beak.
• Beak makes long term storage difficult
Erlenmeyer Flask
• Used to mix, store and heat substances.
• Narrow neck makes it easy to stopper and to
reduce spillage when swirling liquids
• When volume markings are present, they are
inaccurate
Thermometer
• Used to measure temperature
• May have Fahrenheit and Celsius markings—
however science only reads in Celsius
• May have a plastic or rubber bumper to
reduce rolling and breaking
• Made of glass—teacher should always clean
broken glass
• Take special care with mercury thermometers
(silver)
Pipette
• Used to measure and transfer small volumes
of liquid.
• May be called a micropipette when they
measure less than 1 mL
Medicine dropper
• Used to transfer liquids
• Measurement is inaccurate
Triple beam balance
• Used to measure mass
• Named for the three beams which carry
different weights which must be totaled to
determine mass.
Dissecting probes
• Used to manipulate (move, hold, tear)
dissecting specimens
• Not to be used as swords or thrown across the
lab
• Come in a variety of shapes for different uses
Forceps
• Used for grasping and pulling
• Often used during dissections or with
microscopic specimen
• Tweezers are forceps in your house
Centrifuge
• Device to separate substances based on
weight
• The device spins at high speeds causing the
heavier substances to move down the tube
• Must be balanced to work properly
• Always use with closed containers
Gloves
• Can be heat resistant, chemical resistant or
medical gloves.
• Be sure to select the right type
• Heat resistant are often made from heavy
cloth or leather
• Chemical resistant are often made of heavy
rubber
• Medical are very thin and would melt under
heat or chemical exposure
Safety goggles
• A form of protective eyewear that usually
enclose the eye area to prevent particulates or
chemicals from striking the eyes
• They do no good if they are not on your face.
• Almost every lab requires the use of goggles
Eyewash station
• A fountain of flowing water used to flush eyes
in case of accident
• We wear goggles to reduce the need to use an
eyewash.
• In case of chemical splash, eyes should be
flushed for a minimum of 15 minutes
Scalpel
• Used to make incisions and/or cuts during
dissections
• Blade is sharp—cut away from the body
• Do not throw directly into trash
Bunsen burner
• Used to provide open flame heat source
• Be careful not to use near flammable
substances including loose clothing or long
hair
Petri Dish
• Small covered container used to store or grow
samples such as bacteria
• Can be made of glass—breakage hazard
• Often contains growth medium such as agar
Microscope
• Used to view items not visible to the naked
eye.
• Do not use sunlight as light source
• Often electric—shock hazard
• Contain glass parts—breakage hazard
Electrophoresis
• Used to separate lengths of DNA based on size
by exposing them to an electric current
Mortar and pestle
• Used to grind substances into finer particles or
to break open a structure such as cells
Dissection pan
• Used to hold specimen and contain fluids
during dissection
• Often contain soft substance to allow for
pinning of specimen
• Blue pads may be removed for cleaning
Funnel
• Used to transfer substances neatly
• May also be used with a filter to separate two
substances
Bottle brushes
• Used to scrub equipment
• Come in a variety of sizes—use the most
appropriate one
Test tube
• Small cylinder shaped container
• Often with round bottom
• Used to mix, heat and store small amounts