NCS ChemistryNCS ChemistryLab EquipmentLab Equipment

Adapted from presentations by Stephen L. Cotton, Charles Page High School and Mrs. Parris, Galax High School

BeakerBeaker• Beakers hold solids or liquids.Beakers hold solids or liquids.• Very poor accuracy – should only be used to Very poor accuracy – should only be used to

estimate volumeestimate volume• Note the size capacity (250 mL in this case)Note the size capacity (250 mL in this case)

There are There are four sizes four sizes of beakers of beakers for you to for you to use in your use in your lab desk.lab desk.

Beaker TongsBeaker Tongs Beaker tongs are Beaker tongs are used to move used to move beakers beakers containing hot containing hot liquids.liquids.

Note the Note the rubber rubber coatingcoating to to improve grip on improve grip on the glass beaker the glass beaker - - do NOT hold do NOT hold this in a burner this in a burner flame.flame.

Bunsen BurnerBunsen Burner

Make sure Make sure the hose is the hose is snug on the snug on the gas outlet gas outlet and that and that there are there are no cracks no cracks in the hose.in the hose.

Bunsen burners are used for heating Bunsen burners are used for heating nonvolatilenonvolatile liquids and solids. liquids and solids.

Centigram BalanceCentigram Balance

Make sure Make sure balance is balance is zeroedzeroed before before beginning.beginning.

Never Never place chemicals directly onto place chemicals directly onto the balance pan.the balance pan.

AlwaysAlways return the return the riders to riders to zero when zero when you finish you finish massing.massing.

Ceramic Fiber Square Ceramic Fiber Square (Heat Resistant Mat)(Heat Resistant Mat)

Always place Always place hot glassware hot glassware

on a heat on a heat resistant mat. resistant mat.

Placing hot Placing hot glass on a glass on a

cool counter cool counter can cause it to can cause it to

crack.crack.

Cobalt Glass Plate Cobalt Glass Plate

Crucible and coverCrucible and cover

Crucibles are used Crucibles are used for heating certain for heating certain solids, particularly solids, particularly metals, to very high metals, to very high temperatures. The temperatures. The cover can be used to cover can be used to contain any smoke contain any smoke particles.particles.

Crucible TongsCrucible Tongs

For handling hot For handling hot crucibles; also used to crucibles; also used to pick up other hot pick up other hot objects - objects - NOTNOT to be to be used for picking up used for picking up beakers! beakers!

Deflagrating SpoonDeflagrating Spoon

Will be used in the Fume Hood in the Will be used in the Fume Hood in the combustion of sulfur.combustion of sulfur.

Erlenmeyer FlaskErlenmeyer Flask

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

Note the size

Evaporating DishEvaporating Dish

The evaporating The evaporating dish is used for dish is used for heating stable solid heating stable solid compounds and compounds and elements, as well as elements, as well as for evaporating for evaporating nonvolatile nonvolatile solutions.solutions.

Florence FlaskFlorence Flask

Rarely used in first Rarely used in first year chemistry, it is year chemistry, it is used for the mixing used for the mixing of chemicals. Narrow of chemicals. Narrow neck prevents splash neck prevents splash exposure.exposure.

ForcepsForceps

Forceps are used to hold or pick up Forceps are used to hold or pick up small objects.small objects.

FunnelFunnel

A funnel is used A funnel is used to aid in the to aid in the transfer of transfer of liquids from one liquids from one vessel to vessel to another, and will another, and will hold filter paper hold filter paper while filtering. It while filtering. It may be glass or may be glass or plastic.plastic.

Graduated CylinderGraduated Cylinder

A graduated A graduated cylinder is used to cylinder is used to more accurately more accurately measure volumes measure volumes of liquids (probably of liquids (probably your best everyday your best everyday measuring tool) measuring tool) there are three there are three sizes in your desk: sizes in your desk: 10 mL, 50 mL and 10 mL, 50 mL and 100 mL. 100 mL.

Litmus PaperLitmus Paper Red litmus paper litmus paper is used to identify is used to identify basesbases::

Red turns blue,Red turns blue,Blue stays blueBlue stays blue

Blue litmus paper litmus paper is used to identify is used to identify acidsacids::

Blue turns red, Red Blue turns red, Red stays redstays red

Pasteur PipetPasteur Pipet

A Pasteur pipet is A Pasteur pipet is used to transfer a used to transfer a small volume of small volume of liquid, usually one liquid, usually one drop at a time.drop at a time.

On top of each pipet is a “On top of each pipet is a “rubber bulbrubber bulb” – ” – nevernever put your mouth on the dropper to provide put your mouth on the dropper to provide suctionsuction

Pipe Stem (Clay) TrianglePipe Stem (Clay) Triangle

The pipe stem The pipe stem triangle is used as a triangle is used as a support for support for cruciblescrucibles when being heated when being heated over a lab burner.over a lab burner.

It can also be used to It can also be used to support a funnel support a funnel when filtering.when filtering.

Reaction PlatesReaction Plates

Reaction plates Reaction plates (or (or multi-well plates)multi-well plates) are are used when we want to used when we want to perform many small perform many small scale reactions at one scale reactions at one time.time.

It is like having lots of It is like having lots of test tubes available at test tubes available at one time. one time.

Ringstands and their ComponentsRingstands and their Components

Ringstands are a Ringstands are a safe and convenient safe and convenient way to perform way to perform reactions that reactions that require heating require heating using a lab burner.using a lab burner.

NeverNever put them in put them in the cabinet if they the cabinet if they are too hot to hold are too hot to hold as it can cause a as it can cause a fire.fire.

Ringstands and their ComponentsRingstands and their ComponentsIron RingIron Ring

Iron rings connect to a Iron rings connect to a ringstand, and provide ringstand, and provide a stable, elevated a stable, elevated platform for a beaker to platform for a beaker to be heated.be heated.

Will also hold a pipe Will also hold a pipe stem triangle and stem triangle and funnel during filteringfunnel during filtering

Ringstands and their ComponentsRingstands and their ComponentsTest tube ClampsTest tube Clamps

Test tube clamps are Test tube clamps are used to secure test used to secure test tubes, distillation tubes, distillation columns, and burets columns, and burets to the ringstand.to the ringstand.

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Ringstands and their ComponentsRingstands and their ComponentsDouble Buret ClampsDouble Buret Clamps

Double Buret Double Buret clamps are used clamps are used to secure burets to secure burets (long graduated (long graduated tubes) or tubes) or thermometers to thermometers to the ringstand.the ringstand.

Ringstands and their ComponentsRingstands and their ComponentsWire GauzeWire Gauze

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

On older wire gauze, On older wire gauze, the white material was the white material was asbestos – currently it asbestos – currently it is a ceramic.is a ceramic.

Scoopula/Spatula Scoopula/Spatula Spatulas are used to transfer solid chemicals. Spatulas are used to transfer solid chemicals. NeverNever insert a spatula directly into a reagent insert a spatula directly into a reagent

bottle.bottle.

Chemicals should Chemicals should nevernever be transferred with be transferred with your bare hands.your bare hands.

Stirring RodStirring RodThe stirring rod is The stirring rod is used to: used to: a)a)manually stir manually stir solutions; solutions; b)b)assist in pouring assist in pouring liquids; and liquids; and c)c)to transfer a single to transfer a single drop of a solution.drop of a solution.

Rubber policeman tip Rubber policeman tip is used to remove is used to remove precipitates.precipitates.

Stir with this end.Stir with this end.

Striker / SparkerStriker / Sparker

These strikers are These strikers are used to light lab used to light lab burners. burners.

The flints on The flints on strikers are strikers are expensive. expensive. Do not Do not operate the striker operate the striker repeatedly just to repeatedly just to see the sparks!see the sparks!

Test TubesTest Tubes – – we commonly use 2 sizes:we commonly use 2 sizes:

18 x 150 mm18 x 150 mm

13 x 100 mm13 x 100 mm

IgnitionIgnitionTubeTube

(25 x 200 mm (25 x 200 mm – I’ll use these – I’ll use these

in demos.)in demos.)

Test tubes are used to mix chemicals, and also Test tubes are used to mix chemicals, and also to heat chemicals. to heat chemicals. Only heat test tubes that are Pyrex or Kimax.

Test Tube BrushesTest Tube Brushes

Test tube brushes are Test tube brushes are used to clean test used to clean test tubes and graduated tubes and graduated cylinders.cylinders.

Forcing a large brush Forcing a large brush into a small test tube into a small test tube will often break the will often break the tube. tube. Don’t worry Don’t worry about drying theabout drying theinside of a test tube.inside of a test tube.

Small test tube brushSmall test tube brush

Large test tube brushLarge test tube brush

Test Tube HolderTest Tube Holder

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

Knowing where Knowing where to to holdhold this piece this piece of equipment (at of equipment (at the end) is the end) is important!important!

Test Tube RacksTest Tube Racks

Test tube racks are for holding and organizing Test tube racks are for holding and organizing test tubes on the laboratory counter. test tubes on the laboratory counter.

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ThermometerThermometer

NeverNever shake thermometers. shake thermometers. NeverNever place a place a thermometer directly into a flame.thermometer directly into a flame.

Thin Stem PipetThin Stem Pipet

Watch GlassWatch Glass

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

Can also be used Can also be used as a as a covercover for an for an evaporating dish or evaporating dish or beaker.beaker.

Weigh BoatWeigh Boat Weigh boats are Weigh boats are

used to weigh solids used to weigh solids that will be that will be transferred to transferred to another vessel.another vessel.

NeverNever put chemicals put chemicals directly on the directly on the balance – it leaves balance – it leaves residue and can residue and can harm the balance harm the balance and contaminate the and contaminate the chemicals.chemicals.