Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Lab Equipment
45 Common Lab Equipment Names and Usages
Beaker
Erlenmeyer Flask
Florence Flask
Graduated Cylinder
Gas Collecting Bottle
Test Tubes
Test Tube Clamp (Holder)
Test Tube Brushers
Test Tube Racks
Beaker
Holds, mixes, measures, or heats liquids
Used for general tasks like preparing solutions or conducting reactions
Has a spout for pouring
*Volume markings are approximate
Erlenmeyer Flask
Holds and mixes liquids
Conical shape reduces spills during swirling
Used for titrations, mixing solutions, or heating liquids.
Florence Flask
Not commonly used in first year chemistry
It is used for the mixing of chemicals.
Narrow neck prevents splash exposure.
Graduated Cylinder
Measures precise volumes of liquids
Tall, narrow shape with graduated markings ensures accurate readings.
Gas Collecting Bottle
Used when large volumes of gases are produced, and must be collected by the displacement of water.
Test Tubes
Holds small samples for mixing, heating, or observing reactions
Used in qualitative experiments or small-scale tests.
Test Tube Clamp (Holder)
Useful for holding a test tube which is too hot to handle.
Test Tube Brushes
Used to clean test tubes and graduated cylinders.
*Warning: Forcing a large brush into a small test tube will often break the tube.
Test Tube Racks
Hold and organize test tubes on the laboratory counter.
Plastic racks may melt in contact with very hot test tubes.
Googles
Goggles are the primary protectors intended to shield the eyes by providing a protective seal against chemical splash, irritating mists, vapors, and fumes.
Especially important when working with liquids that may splash, spray, or mist.
Rubber Stoppers
Used to close containers to avoid spillage or contamination.
Do Not heat containers with a stopper in place.
Spot Plates or Well Plates
Used to perform many small-scale reactions at one time.
Watch Glass
Used to hold a small amount of solid, such as the product of a reaction.
Disposable Pipette
Facilitates the safe transfer of small volumes of liquids
Helpful in situations where cross-contamination needs to be avoided.
Micropipette
Used to accurately and precisely transfer volumes of liquid in the microliter range.
Burette
Dispenses precise volumes of liquid in titrations
This is a long, graduated tube with a stopcock for controlled release.
Litmus Paper
Red litmus paper is used to identify bases.
Blue litmus paper is used to identify acids.
pH Paper
Uses a gradation of colors to determine the pH of a solution.
Forceps (or tweezers)
Used for picking up small objects.
Funnel
Aids in the transfer of liquid from one vessel to another.
Weighing Boat
Used to weigh solids that will be transferred to another vessel.
Hot Plate
Heats samples evenly
Used for warming liquids or solids in containers like beakers or flasks; often includes stirring capabilities.
Spatulas
Used to dispense solid chemicals from their containers.
Chemicals should never be transferred with your bare hands.
Scoopula
Used to transfer solids, commonly used while at the balance.
Mortar and Pestle
Two simple tools used to prepare substances by crushing and grinding them into a fine paste or powder.
The mortar- a bowl, typically made of hard ceramic stone.
The pestle- is a blunt, club-shaped object.
Bunsen Burner
Used for the heating of nonvolatile liquids and solids.
Crucible
Used for heating certain solids, particularly metals, to very high temperatures.
Clay Triangle
Used as a support for porcelain crucibles when being heated over a Bunsen burner.
Crucible Tongs
For handling hot crucibles; also used to pick up other hot objects.
*NOT to be used for picking up beakers!
Glass Plates
Glass plates provide a surface for semi-micro scale experiments, such as drop reactions and testing of acids and bases.
Ring stand Component: Iron Rings
Iron rings connect to a ring stand and provide a stable, elevated platform for the reaction.
Ring stand Component: Utility Clamps
Used to secure test tubes, distillation columns, and burets to the ring stand.
Ring stand Component: Double Buret Clamps
Used to hold burets (long graduated tubes used in titration).
Ring stand Component: Wire Gauze
Wire gauze sits on the iron ring to provide a place to stand a beaker
On older wire gauze, the white material is asbestos!
Due to its anti-flammable properties
Strikers
Strikers are used to light Bunsen burners.
The flints on strikers are expensive. Do not operate the striker repeatedly just to see the sparks!
Link to Lecture Slides: docs.google.com/document/d/1WisNdoBvcHVjLmqJSIfJWDNlUtVOfVAs/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Lab Equipment" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/1WisNdoBvcHVjLmqJSIfJWDNlUtVOfVAs/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
Lab Equipment
45 Common Lab Equipment Names and Usages
Beaker
Erlenmeyer Flask
Florence Flask
Graduated Cylinder
Gas Collecting Bottle
Test Tubes
Test Tube Clamp (Holder)
Test Tube Brushers
Test Tube Racks
Beaker
Holds, mixes, measures, or heats liquids
Used for general tasks like preparing solutions or conducting reactions
Has a spout for pouring
*Volume markings are approximate
Erlenmeyer Flask
Holds and mixes liquids
Conical shape reduces spills during swirling
Used for titrations, mixing solutions, or heating liquids.
Florence Flask
Not commonly used in first year chemistry
It is used for the mixing of chemicals.
Narrow neck prevents splash exposure.
Graduated Cylinder
Measures precise volumes of liquids
Tall, narrow shape with graduated markings ensures accurate readings.
Gas Collecting Bottle
Used when large volumes of gases are produced, and must be collected by the displacement of water.
Test Tubes
Holds small samples for mixing, heating, or observing reactions
Used in qualitative experiments or small-scale tests.
Test Tube Clamp (Holder)
Useful for holding a test tube which is too hot to handle.
Test Tube Brushes
Used to clean test tubes and graduated cylinders.
*Warning: Forcing a large brush into a small test tube will often break the tube.
Test Tube Racks
Hold and organize test tubes on the laboratory counter.
Plastic racks may melt in contact with very hot test tubes.
Googles
Goggles are the primary protectors intended to shield the eyes by providing a protective seal against chemical splash, irritating mists, vapors, and fumes.
Especially important when working with liquids that may splash, spray, or mist.
Rubber Stoppers
Used to close containers to avoid spillage or contamination.
Do Not heat containers with a stopper in place.
Spot Plates or Well Plates
Used to perform many small-scale reactions at one time.
Watch Glass
Used to hold a small amount of solid, such as the product of a reaction.
Disposable Pipette
Facilitates the safe transfer of small volumes of liquids
Helpful in situations where cross-contamination needs to be avoided.
Micropipette
Used to accurately and precisely transfer volumes of liquid in the microliter range.
Burette
Dispenses precise volumes of liquid in titrations
This is a long, graduated tube with a stopcock for controlled release.
Litmus Paper
Red litmus paper is used to identify bases.
Blue litmus paper is used to identify acids.
pH Paper
Uses a gradation of colors to determine the pH of a solution.
Forceps (or tweezers)
Used for picking up small objects.
Funnel
Aids in the transfer of liquid from one vessel to another.
Weighing Boat
Used to weigh solids that will be transferred to another vessel.
Hot Plate
Heats samples evenly
Used for warming liquids or solids in containers like beakers or flasks; often includes stirring capabilities.
Spatulas
Used to dispense solid chemicals from their containers.
Chemicals should never be transferred with your bare hands.
Scoopula
Used to transfer solids, commonly used while at the balance.
Mortar and Pestle
Two simple tools used to prepare substances by crushing and grinding them into a fine paste or powder.
The mortar- a bowl, typically made of hard ceramic stone.
The pestle- is a blunt, club-shaped object.
Bunsen Burner
Used for the heating of nonvolatile liquids and solids.
Crucible
Used for heating certain solids, particularly metals, to very high temperatures.
Clay Triangle
Used as a support for porcelain crucibles when being heated over a Bunsen burner.
Crucible Tongs
For handling hot crucibles; also used to pick up other hot objects.
*NOT to be used for picking up beakers!
Glass Plates
Glass plates provide a surface for semi-micro scale experiments, such as drop reactions and testing of acids and bases.
Ring stand Component: Iron Rings
Iron rings connect to a ring stand and provide a stable, elevated platform for the reaction.
Ring stand Component: Utility Clamps
Used to secure test tubes, distillation columns, and burets to the ring stand.
Ring stand Component: Double Buret Clamps
Used to hold burets (long graduated tubes used in titration).
Ring stand Component: Wire Gauze
Wire gauze sits on the iron ring to provide a place to stand a beaker
On older wire gauze, the white material is asbestos!
Due to its anti-flammable properties
Strikers
Strikers are used to light Bunsen burners.
The flints on strikers are expensive. Do not operate the striker repeatedly just to see the sparks!
Link to Lecture Slides: docs.google.com/document/d/1WisNdoBvcHVjLmqJSIfJWDNlUtVOfVAs/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Lab Equipment" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/1WisNdoBvcHVjLmqJSIfJWDNlUtVOfVAs/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
