Science Lab Equipment

Henderson Hornets

Middle School Science

Objectives Identify common lab equipment

State the functions of common lab equipment

Demonstrate the proper uses of common lab equipment

Bunsen Burner How to use it: We will NOT! Instead, we USE

a HOT PLATE

What it does: Produce a flame to heat glassware and other objects.

Safety concerns: Open flame

Hot Plate • What it Does: Produces heat like a stove

burner

•How to use it: Connect only when given permission. Always ask for the temperature setting.

•Safety Concerns: Never touch the plate with your hand. Don’t reach across the hot plate.

Hot Mitt/Gloves•What it Does: Protects hands against hot containers

•How to use it: Puton hands and be sure to get a good grip

•Safety Concerns: Glassware may slip out of your hands.

Thermometer

•How to use it: Place in container with liquid. Do not let the thermometer rest on the bottom of container

•What it Does: Takes temperature of liquids

•Safety Concerns: If broken, hard to clean up Glass breakage

Beakers

How to use it: Use a graduated cylinder to fill with

the right amount of liquid.

Use it to heat, stir, or mix substances.

What it Does: Holds liquids. Comes in different sizes

Safety Concerns: Breakable, Check for chips or cracks before using it

Beaker Tongs What it does: Use to lift hot beakers

Safety Concerns: Not very easy to use so be careful when using. Grasp near top of beaker

How to use it: Use the rubber ends to wrap around a hot beaker and lift

Stirring rod

How to use it: Gently stir the substances.

What it does: Stirs substances

Safety Concerns: Made of glass, do not use if chipped or broken.

Flasks

How to use it: Read the meniscus when used tomeasure. Fill with care.

Safety concerns: Glass breakage

What it Does: Holds and measures larger and amounts of liquids. Good for swirling liquids

Rubber Stopper

How to use it: Choose the correct size for the glassware you’re using and push in

What it does: Seals glassware

Safety Concerns: If you push too hard, it can break glassware

Graduated Cylinder What it does: Measures liquid very precisely

How to use it: Fill the liquid to the proper volume. Always read the bottom of the meniscus

Safety Concerns: Use a bumper on glass one to protect from breakage.

Pipette

•How to use it: Squeeze the bulb to suction liquid and then let go. Fill the liquid to the proper volume.

•What it does: Measures small amounts liquid very precisely

Safety Concerns: Do not point at anyone

Dropper

• Safety Concerns: Do not point at anyone. Can break if glass.

• How to use it: Squeeze the bulb to suction liquid

Release one drop at a time

• What it does: Dispenses small amounts of liquid

Test Tube

•How to use it: Measure the liquid with a pipette or graduated cylinder to measure liquid and then pour it in. Release one drop at a time.

•What it does: Holds small amounts of liquid

•Safety Concerns: Glass breakage, Do not use if chipped

Test Tube Rack

• Safety Concerns: Keep it balanced so that it does not tip over.

•How to use it: Put test tube in opening.

•What it does: Holds test tubes upright

Test Tube Holder

• Safety Concerns: Don’t squeeze while holding a test tube or the test tube will fall through.

• What it does: Holds test tube for heating

• How to use it: Squeeze handles to open and release to grasp test tube.

Mortar and Pestle

• Safety Concerns: May break

• How to use it: Place substance into the mortar and use the pestle to grind it down to a powder.

• What it does: Grinds chunks of substances into powder.

Ring Stand

• Safety Concerns: May tip over.

• How to use it: Placeon table and connect ringor clamp

•What it does: Used to hold ring and clamps Useful when heat substances with a Bunsen burner

Ring/Clamp

• Safety Concerns: May cause apparatus to tip over. Don’t over tighten.

• How to use it: Attach to ring stand

•What it does: Hold beakers, test tubes, or thermometers when heating substances with a Bunsen burner.

Funnel

• Safety Concerns: Don’t pour liquid all at once or it may spill over.

•What it does: Helps to pour liquid into small openings

•How to use it: Place the funnel tip into the container’s opening. Slowly pour liquid

Petri Dish

• Safety Concerns: Breakage if glass. Plastic can break easily

•How to use it: Place the specimen in the bottom and place the lid on top. Put agar into bottom and swab sample then cover with lid

•What it does: Holds specimen while viewing under a dissecting microscope. Used to grow bacteria

Watch Glass

• Safety Concerns: Don’t touch specimen to microscope lens Glass breakage

•How to use it: Place specimen in glass and put under microscope

•What it does: Holds specimen for viewing under dissecting microscope

Dissecting Pan

• Safety Concerns: Don’t drop on you foot, it is heavy.

•How to use it: Place specimen pan. You may use pins to hold down the specimen

•What it does: Holds specimen for observation and dissecting

Dissecting Pin

• Safety Concerns: Sharp object. Be careful not to poke yourself.

•How to use it: Place specimen pan You may use dissecting pins to hold down the specimen

•What it does: Holds specimen for observation and dissecting

Probe

• Safety Concerns: Sharp object Be careful not to poke yourself.

•How to use it: While holding tissue, use probe

to break through tissue

•What it does: Separates tissue during dissection. Use as a pointer during dissection.

Scalpel

• Safety Concerns: Sharp object, cut away from yourself. Be careful not to cut yourself.

• How to use it: While holding specimen, use scalpel to cut through tissue. Cut through a little at a time so you don’t go deeper than you need to

•What it does: Cuts tissue during dissection.

Scissors

• Safety Concerns: Sharp object. Cut away from yourself. Be careful not to cut yourself.

• How to use it: More useful to use during dissecting than the scalped

•What it does: Cuts specimen or other things in the lab

Forceps

• Safety Concerns: Sharp object, Be careful not to cut yourself

• How to use it: Squeeze sides to hold or pick up item.

•What it does: Picks up small objects. Used to hold tissue or specimen when dissecting.

Microscope

• Safety Concerns: Hold with base and arm when transferring. Will break if dropped. Electrical safety.

•What it does: Magnifies objects

• How to use it: Turn on light and then adjust

using the coarse and fine adjustment knobs

Slide

• Safety Concerns: Glass breakage. Don’t crack with objectives.

• How to use it: Place specimen in the middle.

You may need to add a drop of distilled water

•What it does: Holds specimen you want to view under the microscope

Cover Slip

• Safety Concerns: It is very thin and you may cut yourself

• How to use it: Place lightly onto specimen on the slide

•What it does: Covers specimen on slide. Flattens object so you can see better.

Triple Beam Balance

• Safety Concerns: Don’t drop it. Balance before use.

• How to use it: Place substance or object on pan and adjust riders until balanced

•What it does: Masses substances and objects

Meter Stick and Meter Tape

• Safety Concerns: Don’t get the meter tape tangled. Don’t hit your partner accidently.

• How to use it: For the meter tape, work with a partner, one holds the tape down and the other extends the tape to measure longer distances

•What it does: Measures distance.

Stopwatch

• Safety Concerns: Don’t drop swing around, you might hit someone

•What it does: Measures time

• How to use it: Reset before you use. Push start and stop as accurately as possible

Spring Scale

• Safety Concerns: Don’t drop it. Balance before use

•What it does: Measures force in Newtons

• How to use it: Place the hook at the end of an object and slowly pull.

Insect Traps

• Safety Concerns: Open carefully so insects don’t escape

•What it does: Captures insects

• How to use it: Set up as directed to trap live insects.

Collecting Nets

• Safety Concerns: Don’t fall when using be careful not to tear, they are delicate.

•What it does: Used to collect insects and fish or other aquatic organisms.

• How to use it: Quickly swipe net to capture organisms.

Summary•Knowing the names and uses of

common lab equipment will make doing labs much easier•Knowing how to properly use

equipment also makes for a safe environment in the lab• Safety for yourself and your classmates

are the MOST IMPORTANT things in a lab