You are probably already familiar with much of the labware that is used in biology. Let's quickly review the basic labware.
Directions: Click on the blanks to see what the best use is for the pictured lab equipment and when not to use this equipment.
Equipment | Picture | Best Use | When Not to Use | ||
Beaker | Heating, mixing, pouring liquids | Precise measurement of liquid volume | |||
Graduated cylinder | Precise measurement of liquids. The smaller the increment of measurement (ex: .5ml vs 1 ml), the greater precision. Also used to determine density of small, and/or irregular objects. | Heating, mixing liquids | |||
Erlenmeyer flask | Mixing, heating, temporary storage of liquids | Precise measurement of volume | |||
Test tubes in rack | Mixing, heating, temporary storage of small amounts of chemicals | Precise measurement of volume, testing large amounts of material | |||
Dropper bottle | With pipette, used to transfer small amounts of liquid to avoid contamination of original liquid source | Very large or very precise transfers of liquid | |||
Electronic balance | Precise measurement of mass. Used with massing paper or boat to protect balance pan surface. | Masses beyond given range of balance. Note: Tare (return to zero) with massing paper/boat before adding chemical. | |||
Incubator | Gently warming bacterial cultures | Sterilizing equipment |
In your notes, draw or explain the differences between a beaker, flask, and graduated cylinder uses. List how they are alike.