Laboratories are a crucial segment in research and development and glass lab equipment are the tools that aid in performing experiments. Experiments performed in laboratories establish the foundation of science and medicine. Also, in education and training, the laboratories for physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics are the centers of learning and observation. Students improve their understanding of theories and principles through their physical involvement in performing experiments.
The interesting fact is that most of the equipment used in laboratories is made of glass. There are several tools and equipment used to execute various experiments. Each of this equipment possesses a specific function. Every laboratory instrument performs various tasks such as scaling, measuring, mixing, boiling, and filtering in experiments. Researchers use every instrument in a laboratory to perform various tasks, such as scaling, measuring, mixing, boiling, and filtering.
While conducting various experiments, researchers observe that they use mostly glass equipment. There are certain prevailing factors that contribute to the wide-scale use of glass lab equipment.
Factors that are Responsible for the Use of Glass Lab Equipment
Laboratory glassware comes in various shapes, sizes, textures, and chemical properties. The scientific experiments demand instruments made of stable physical and chemical properties. The significant cause is to avoid reaction with the chemicals used in various experiments.
Noted below are the important factors that responsible for the application of extensive use of glass lab equipment:
- Glass is a non-reactive element that is resistant to almost every type of chemicals used in experiments. It is a great feature that acts as a major advantage of glassware in laboratories. Since laboratories use a wide variety of chemicals and chemical components, researchers find glass to be the most reliable choice for conducting experiments.
- The transparency of the glass is useful for scrupulous observation. You can easily perceive the physical characteristics of every element in experimentation, such as changes in color, chemical reactions, consistency, quantity, and quality.
- Manufacturers can transform glass into any shape and size by folding, bending, and molding it. So, it is the most convenient lab equipment material that is suitable for every requirement.
- Special types of glasses like Borosil can withstand high temperatures. So an experiment that demands high-temperature boiling requires glassware. Borosil glass is greatly durable to extreme temperatures.
- The laboratory glassware is easy to clean. It means they do not get greased and can be conveniently washed.
These are primarily the major advantages of using glass in laboratory equipment.
The Types of Glassware in Laboratories
Researchers employ diverse forms of glass lab equipment to conduct various experiments and studies. The following are some examples:
1. Funnels
Researchers generally use these cone-shaped tools to pour liquid from one container to another and avoid spillage. However, funnels used to separate solids from liquids have a bulb shape. We refer to these as separatory funnels, and we close the mouth of each funnel with a stopcock. It prevents the spill of liquids.
2. Beakers
Beakers are the most commonly used lab equipment. There are multiple uses of beakers like the mixing of liquids, pouring liquids, storing chemicals, and even heating various chemical elements over the soaring flame. The beakers are also used to measure the quantity of fluids. So they act as a measuring tool too.
3. Pipets
Researchers often use plain or graduated pipets to extract liquid from a vessel, allowing them to measure the exact quantity of liquid accurately.
4. Graduated Cylinders
Taller than and narrower than beakers, these cylinders aid in deriving improved measurements. A ring protects the glass from any impact at the top of the graduated cylinder.
5. Burettes
These are narrow measuring cylinders that have a tap at the bottom. It helps in transporting the exact amount of liquid to a different container.
6. Volumetric Flasks
Like beakers, these flasks also act as storage containers. However, volumetric flasks enable impeccable measurements. It is greatly used for measurement precision. These flasks have a tapered neck with a conical or spherical shape.
To conclude, there are various types of glass lab equipment that serve an enormous purpose and uses. These instruments are the foundation for performing effective experiments in various fields.
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