Laboratory glassware provides scientists with some of the tools to unravel the natural world’s mysteries. These glass instruments are the backbone of any laboratory, from beakers and flasks to pipettes and burettes.
This article will look at some of the key laboratory glassware items and how they enable scientists to push the boundaries of knowledge.
What is Laboratory Glassware?
Laboratory glassware refers to a range of glass equipment used in scientific experimentation and research. Professionals across scientific disciplines rely on these pieces of equipment to mix and store substances. The transparent and chemically inert nature of glass allows for easy observation of reactions, while its temperature resistance enables heating and cooling applications.
What is Laboratory Glassware Made From?
Laboratory glassware is commonly made from a type of glass known as borosilicate glass, composed of silica and boron trioxide. This glass is highly resistant to thermal stress and chemical reaction, making it suitable for various laboratory experiments and tests.
Different Glassware Items
Beakers
Beakers are the most common type of glassware in laboratories and are used for mixing, stirring, heating and pouring liquids.
They are clear, cylindrical containers with a flat bottom and have a spout on the rim to pour liquids safely and accurately. Most are designed with a measuring scale to help scientists approximate volume with known accuracy.
Test Tubes
Test tubes are long, slim, cylindrical containers with a rounded bottom. Due to their versatility, they are great for growing, analysing and observing microorganisms. They are also commonly found in laboratories for mixing, heating and storing chemical experiments and tests for research purposes.
Erlenmeyer Flasks
Erlenmeyer flask, known as a conical flask, was named after its inventor, German chemist Emil Erlenmeyer. This multifunctional narrow-neck flask is ideal for titrations as the flask can be swirled without spilling and can prevent excessive evaporation. Due to its tapered body and narrow neck, it can support a filter funnel that can separate solids from liquids. In addition, its narrow neck allows the flask to be covered with a glass stopper or cork to enhance shaking and gas exchange during incubation.
Pipettes
A pipette, also known as an eye dropper, is a glass tool that can transfer a small volume of liquid from one place to another. Some pipettes have a bulb or reservoir at the top, which can be squeezed to suction the liquid into the pipette or to expel it.
The shape of a pipette is a long, narrow tube with a pointed tip. This tapered tip minimises liquid loss and allows accurate delivery for experiments requiring precise volumes.
Burettes
Burettes are long, graduated glass tubes with a stopcock at the bottom. They are primarily used in titrations to deliver volumes of liquid or gas into another vessel with known accuracy.
With the stopcock valve at its lower end, scientists can measure the volume of solution added, making them useful for quantitative analysis.
Petri Dishes
The Petri Dish is named after German microbiologist Julius Richard Petri, who modified Robert Koch’s agar and glass plates invention.
The reusable dishes are shallow, cylindrical glass with a lid. They are commonly used in microbiology and cell culture to culture and observe bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms.
Due to its shallow lid, the dish provides a sterile environment for the growth and observation of microorganisms.
Use of Laboratory Glassware
To conclude, the fundamental use of laboratory glassware enables scientists to handle and manipulate substances in a controlled and accurate manner. Whether measuring volumes with beakers, heating and observing reactions with flasks and test tubes or transferring precise amounts of liquids with pipettes and burettes, laboratory glassware plays a crucial role in ensuring the validity and reproducibility of scientific results.
Ken founded Scientific Glass Services in 1978 and has a wealth of experience developing custom-made scientific glassware, working closely with research laboratories, hospitals and universities. Ken and the team make bespoke laboratory glassware to your requirements or repair valuable broken apparatus, each piece being hand-blown from quality borosilicate glass.