Common Lab Equipment

Many scientific experiments use common lab equipment to test, explore and find explanations for a variety of relationships between matter and energy. Knowledge of commonly used lab equipment is essential for any scientific endeavor that incorporates experimental and demonstrative procedures.

Common Volume Measurement Lab Equipment

• A graduated cylinder is commonly used to measure the volume of matter.

  Volume, or how much space matter takes up, is commonly measured in three different practices. Graduated cylinders and beakers are used to measure liquid volume. The liquid is poured into one of these vessels and graduated markings on the cylinder or beaker measures volume in the metric units of liters, milliliters or cubic centimeters. Graduated cylinders are also used to measure the volume of an irregularly-shaped object by filling the cylinder with enough water to accommodate the object, dropping the object in and measuring the change in volume of the water by subtracting the beginning volume by the ending volume. Metric rulers are used to measure the volume of a cubic, or regularly-shaped, object by measuring in centimeters the length, height and width of the object. Multiply these three measurements together to attain the volume of the cubically-shaped object in centimeters cubed.

Measuring Mass with Common Lab Equipment

• A digital scale is commonly used to measure the mass of small solid objects.

  Triple beam balances or digital scales are used to measure the mass of objects in grams and kilograms. An object's mass is determined by placing it on a triple beam balance pan and manipulating riders on the beams to balance the mass of the object with the mass of the opposite pan, much like getting weighed at the doctor's office. Digital scales are used to more accurately give mass measurements, and are more often used for small mass measurements. Place the object on the digital scale and the scale will project the mass of the object through an LCD display in grams and kilograms.

Common Thermal Energy Lab Equipment

• Thermometers and Bunsen burners are used to measure and manipulate heat energy.

  Thermometers are commonly used in the laboratory to measure the temperature of matter. Different thermometers are specialized to measure the temperature of either liquid, solids or gases such as air. Bunsen burners are commonly used to heat up objects using a gas flame. Ring stands are used in conjunction with Bunsen burners to place the object to be heated at a safe distance from the flame to reduce uncontrolled burning. Hot plates can alternatively be used to heat up substances in glass beakers, and work much like an electric stove top.

Common Chemical Application Lab Equipment

• Medicine droppers are commonly used to apply chemicals.

  Chemicals are commonly used in the laboratory and require special equipment for application. Metric medicine droppers and titration pipettes provide dosages of liquid chemicals in milliliter increments. Use a scoopula to retrieve solid, dry and powdered chemicals from containers. A scoopula is a long spoon-like instrument, usually made out of stainless steel, to safely reach solid chemicals from a container. Test tubes and test tube racks are used to combine chemicals. Always research the chemicals you plan to use to safely acquire lab results without an uncontrolled and possibly dangerous chemical reaction.

Common Safety Lab Equipment

• Always use safety precaution equipment when working in a lab setting.

  Safety equipment is necessary for all lab experiments. Safety goggles and chemical-resistant gloves are worn when working with chemicals. Heat-resistant gloves are worn in all experiments that exude excessively warm or cool energy. Aprons should be worn at all times to protect the clothing and body from chemical spills. A fume hood is used to ventilate lab rooms by ushering contaminated air out of the room through a vacuum in the ceiling of a science laboratory.