NCS Chemistry Lab Equipment - Adapted from presentations by Stephen L. Cotton, Charles Page High School and Mrs. Parris, Galax High School

1. NCS ChemistryNCS Chemistry
Lab EquipmentLab Equipment
Adapted from presentations by Stephen L. Cotton, Charles Page High School
and Mrs. Parris, Galax High School

2. BeakerBeaker
• Beakers hold solids or liquids.Beakers hold solids or liquids.
• Very poor accuracy – should only be used toVery 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 areThere are
four sizesfour sizes
of beakersof beakers
for you tofor you to
use in youruse in your
lab desk.lab desk.

3. Beaker TongsBeaker Tongs Beaker tongs areBeaker tongs are
used to moveused to move
beakersbeakers
containing hotcontaining hot
liquids.liquids.
Note theNote the rubberrubber
coatingcoating toto
improve grip onimprove grip on
the glass beakerthe glass beaker
-- do NOT holddo NOT hold
this in a burnerthis in a burner
flame.flame.

4. Bunsen BurnerBunsen Burner
Make sureMake sure
the hose isthe hose is
snug on thesnug on the
gas outletgas outlet
and thatand that
there arethere are
no cracksno cracks
in the hose.in the hose.
Bunsen burners are used for heatingBunsen burners are used for heating
nonvolatilenonvolatile liquids and solids.liquids and solids.

5. Centigram BalanceCentigram Balance
Make sureMake sure
balance isbalance is
zeroedzeroed
beforebefore
beginning.beginning.
NeverNever place chemicals directly ontoplace chemicals directly onto
the balance pan.the balance pan.
AlwaysAlways
return thereturn the
riders toriders to
zero whenzero when
you finishyou finish
massing.massing.

6. Ceramic Fiber SquareCeramic Fiber Square
(Heat Resistant Mat)(Heat Resistant Mat)
Always placeAlways place
hot glasswarehot glassware
on a heaton a heat
resistant mat.resistant mat.
Placing hotPlacing hot
glass on aglass on a
cool countercool counter
can cause it tocan cause it to
crack.crack.

7. Cobalt Glass PlateCobalt Glass Plate

8. Crucible and coverCrucible and cover
Crucibles are usedCrucibles are used
for heating certainfor heating certain
solids, particularlysolids, particularly
metals, to very highmetals, to very high
temperatures. Thetemperatures. The
cover can be used tocover can be used to
contain any smokecontain any smoke
particles.particles.

9. Crucible TongsCrucible Tongs
For handling hotFor handling hot
crucibles; also used tocrucibles; also used to
pick up other hotpick up other hot
objects -objects - NOTNOT to beto be
used for picking upused for picking up
beakers!beakers!

10. Deflagrating SpoonDeflagrating Spoon
Will be used in the Fume Hood in theWill be used in the Fume Hood in the
combustion of sulfur.combustion of sulfur.

11. Erlenmeyer FlaskErlenmeyer Flask
Erlenmeyer flasksErlenmeyer flasks
hold solids or liquidshold solids or liquids
that may releasethat may release
gases during agases during a
reaction or that arereaction or that are
likely to splatter iflikely to splatter if
stirred or heated.stirred or heated.
Note the size

12. Evaporating DishEvaporating Dish
The evaporatingThe evaporating
dish is used fordish is used for
heating stable solidheating stable solid
compounds andcompounds and
elements, as well aselements, as well as
for evaporatingfor evaporating
nonvolatilenonvolatile
solutions.solutions.

13. Florence FlaskFlorence Flask
Rarely used in firstRarely used in first
year chemistry, it isyear chemistry, it is
used for the mixingused for the mixing
of chemicals. Narrowof chemicals. Narrow
neck prevents splashneck prevents splash
exposure.exposure.

14. ForcepsForceps
Forceps are used to hold or pick upForceps are used to hold or pick up
small objects.small objects.

15. FunnelFunnel
A funnel is usedA funnel is used
to aid in theto aid in the
transfer oftransfer of
liquids from oneliquids from one
vessel tovessel to
another, and willanother, and will
hold filter paperhold filter paper
while filtering. Itwhile filtering. It
may be glass ormay be glass or
plastic.plastic.

16. Graduated CylinderGraduated Cylinder
A graduatedA graduated
cylinder is used tocylinder is used to
more accuratelymore accurately
measure volumesmeasure volumes
of liquids (probablyof liquids (probably
your best everydayyour best everyday
measuring tool)measuring tool)
there are threethere are three
sizes in your desk:sizes in your desk:
10 mL, 50 mL and10 mL, 50 mL and
100 mL.100 mL.

17. Litmus PaperLitmus Paper Red litmus paperlitmus paper
is used to identifyis used to identify
basesbases::
Red turns blue,Red turns blue,
Blue stays blueBlue stays blue
Blue litmus paperlitmus paper
is used to identifyis used to identify
acidsacids::
Blue turns red, RedBlue turns red, Red
stays redstays red

18. Pasteur PipetPasteur Pipet
A Pasteur pipet isA Pasteur pipet is
used to transfer aused to transfer a
small volume ofsmall volume of
liquid, usually oneliquid, 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 provideput your mouth on the dropper to provide
suctionsuction

19. Pipe Stem (Clay) TrianglePipe Stem (Clay) Triangle
The pipe stemThe pipe stem
triangle is used as atriangle is used as a
support forsupport for cruciblescrucibles
when being heatedwhen being heated
over a lab burner.over a lab burner.
It can also be used toIt can also be used to
support a funnelsupport a funnel
when filtering.when filtering.

20. Reaction PlatesReaction Plates
Reaction platesReaction plates (or(or
multi-well plates)multi-well plates) areare
used when we want toused when we want to
perform many smallperform many small
scale reactions at onescale reactions at one
time.time.
It is like having lots ofIt is like having lots of
test tubes available attest tubes available at
one time.one time.

21. Ringstands and their ComponentsRingstands and their Components
Ringstands are aRingstands are a
safe and convenientsafe and convenient
way to performway to perform
reactions thatreactions that
require heatingrequire heating
using a lab burner.using a lab burner.
NeverNever put them input them in
the cabinet if theythe cabinet if they
are too hot to holdare too hot to hold
as it can cause aas it can cause a
fire.fire.

22. Ringstands and their ComponentsRingstands and their Components
Iron RingIron Ring
Iron rings connect to aIron rings connect to a
ringstand, and provideringstand, and provide
a stable, elevateda stable, elevated
platform for a beaker toplatform for a beaker to
be heated.be heated.
Will also hold a pipeWill also hold a pipe
stem triangle andstem triangle and
funnel during filteringfunnel during filtering

23. Ringstands and their ComponentsRingstands and their Components
Test tube ClampsTest tube Clamps
Test tube clamps areTest tube clamps are
used to secure testused to secure test
tubes, distillationtubes, distillation
columns, and buretscolumns, and burets
to the ringstand.to the ringstand.
Image source xump.com

24. Ringstands and their ComponentsRingstands and their Components
Double Buret ClampsDouble Buret Clamps
Double BuretDouble Buret
clamps are usedclamps are used
to secure buretsto secure burets
(long graduated(long graduated
tubes) ortubes) or
thermometers tothermometers to
the ringstand.the ringstand.

25. Ringstands and their ComponentsRingstands and their Components
Wire GauzeWire Gauze
Wire gauze sits on theWire gauze sits on the
iron ring to provide airon ring to provide a
place to stand aplace to stand a
beaker.beaker.
On older wire gauze,On older wire gauze,
the white material wasthe white material was
asbestos – currently itasbestos – currently it
is a ceramic.is a ceramic.

26. Scoopula/SpatulaScoopula/Spatula
Spatulas are used to transfer solid chemicals.Spatulas are used to transfer solid chemicals.
NeverNever insert a spatula directly into a reagentinsert a spatula directly into a reagent
bottle.bottle.
Chemicals shouldChemicals should nevernever be transferred withbe transferred with
your bare hands.your bare hands.

27. Stirring RodStirring Rod
The stirring rod isThe stirring rod is
used to:used to:
a)a)manually stirmanually stir
solutions;solutions;
b)b)assist in pouringassist in pouring
liquids; andliquids; and
c)c)to transfer a singleto transfer a single
drop of a solution.drop of a solution.
Rubber policeman tipRubber policeman tip
is used to removeis used to remove
precipitates.precipitates.
Stir with this end.Stir with this end.

28. Striker / SparkerStriker / Sparker
These strikers areThese strikers are
used to light labused to light lab
burners.burners.
The flints onThe flints on
strikers arestrikers are
expensive.expensive. Do notDo not
operate the strikeroperate the striker
repeatedly just torepeatedly just to
see the sparks!see the sparks!

29. 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
IgnitionIgnition
TubeTube
(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 alsoTest tubes are used to mix chemicals, and also
to heat chemicals.to heat chemicals. Only heat test tubes that are
Pyrex or Kimax.

30. Test Tube BrushesTest Tube Brushes
Test tube brushes areTest tube brushes are
used to clean testused to clean test
tubes and graduatedtubes and graduated
cylinders.cylinders.
Forcing a large brushForcing a large brush
into a small test tubeinto a small test tube
will often break thewill often break the
tube.tube. Don’t worryDon’t worry
about drying theabout drying the
inside of a test tube.inside of a test tube.
Small test tube brushSmall test tube brush
Large test tube brushLarge test tube brush

31. Test Tube HolderTest Tube Holder
A test tube holderA test tube holder
is useful foris useful for
holding a testholding a test
tube which is tootube which is too
hot to handle.hot to handle.
Knowing whereKnowing where
toto holdhold this piecethis piece
of equipment (atof equipment (at
the end) isthe end) is
important!important!

32. Test Tube RacksTest Tube Racks
Test tube racks are for holding and organizingTest tube racks are for holding and organizing
test tubes on the laboratory counter.test tubes on the laboratory counter.
Imagesourceonekingslane.com

33. ThermometerThermometer
NeverNever shake thermometers.shake thermometers. NeverNever place aplace a
thermometer directly into a flame.thermometer directly into a flame.

34. Thin Stem PipetThin Stem Pipet

35. Watch GlassWatch Glass
A watch glass isA watch glass is
used to hold aused to hold a
small amount ofsmall amount of
solid, such as thesolid, such as the
product of aproduct of a
reaction.reaction.
Can also be usedCan also be used
as aas a covercover for anfor an
evaporating dish orevaporating dish or
beaker.beaker.

36. Weigh BoatWeigh Boat
 Weigh boats areWeigh boats are
used to weigh solidsused to weigh solids
that will bethat will be
transferred totransferred to
another vessel.another vessel.
 NeverNever put chemicalsput chemicals
directly on thedirectly on the
balance – it leavesbalance – it leaves
residue and canresidue and can
harm the balanceharm the balance
and contaminate theand contaminate the
chemicals.chemicals.