Beakers are a staple of laboratory equipment used in many scientific experiments and research. Laboratory beakers, especially those made from borosilicate glass, are thermal shock resistant and come in many shapes and sizes to fit your laboratory needs. Choosing the right beaker is critical for accurate results, especially in chemistry just like test tubes, beaker tongs, plastic beakers with mechanized washing, or a hot plate used in laboratory applications with lab equipment.
Stainless steel ones are durable and corrosion resistant so great for high temp applications. They come in various sizes from 100ml, 1000 ml, to 12qt so you have options for different volume requirements. Graduated stainless steel beakers have markings on the side so you can measure liquids accurately.
Borosilicate glass beakers like the Pyrex Griffin Lab Beaker are transparent so you can see what’s inside. They’re used for heating, mixing and storing liquids in the lab. Borosilicate glass beakers come in every size range from 50ml to 1000ml to fit your experiment needs.
A plastic graduated beaker is a cost effective and lightweight alternative to borosilicate glass, test tubes, and stainless steel beakers. Used in educational settings and other applications that don’t require high temp resistance.
Beaker accessories like beaker tongs for safe handling and precision dividers for accurate measurements go along with the beakers and make them more functional in the lab.
Whether you’re measuring, mixing, heating or storing liquids a beaker is a versatile and must have tool in any lab. Choose from our wide selection of beakers to fit your lab needs.
Overview
Labware is an essential part of scientific research and testing, used in many experimental procedures in laboratories all over the world. From classic borosilicate glass beakers to modern plastic materials, labware comes in many forms to fit different scientific requirements. This overview covers the specifications, applications and benefits of using various equipment in laboratory settings, with focus on their design features like borosilicate glass and plastic beakers for laboratory efficiency and safety.
Lab beakers are a part of laboratory equipment and come in many types to fit different laboratory tasks. Here are the main types of lab beakers found in most collections of laboratory equipment:
Borosilicate Glass Beakers: Made from low expansion borosilicate lab glass, these beakers are used for laboratory tasks that involve heating, mixing and storing liquids. They are shock resistant and can withstand extreme temperature changes so great for experiments that require direct heating or sudden temperature changes. Borosilicate lab glass beakers are also chemical corrosion resistant so durable and long lasting in the lab.
Polypropylene Beakers: Polypropylene beakers, or plastic beakers, are a cost effective and lightweight alternative to glass beakers. Used in educational settings and for laboratory tasks that don’t require high temp resistance. The plastic graduated beaker is durable and less prone to breakage so great for routine mixing and measuring tasks. They often have easy pouring spouts and graduated measuring scales for precise volume measurements.
Berzelius Beakers: Berzelius beakers are tall and thin beakers with a height that is double their diameter. Used for titration experiments and made from borosilicate glass. The tall form of Berzelius beakers allows for better control during titrations and other precise laboratory procedures. Their design also minimizes the risk of spillage and contamination.
Low Form Beakers: These beakers are shorter and wider than standard beakers so great for hot bath heating in the lab. Made from borosilicate glass and have pouring spouts for easy liquid handling. The low form design provides more stability and reduces the risk of tipping over so great for general mixing and heating applications.
Graduated Beakers: Graduated beakers are for accurate measurements and used for synthetic organic reactions. Available in various materials like borosilicate glass and plastic. Graduated beakers have clear and easy to read markings for precise volume measurements which is critical for experiments that require exact quantities of reagents.
Standard Beakers: Standard beakers are the most common type of lab beaker and used for general laboratory tasks. Made from borosilicate lab glass and have standard shape and size. Standard beakers are versatile and can be used for many applications like mixing, heating and storing liquids.
Disposable Beakers: Disposable beakers are made from plastic and used for single use applications. Used for laboratory tasks that require less quantity of liquid and are autoclavable. Disposable beakers are great for experiments that involve hazardous materials or require sterile conditions as they can be disposed after use to prevent cross contamination.
Jacketed Beakers: Jacketed beakers are for temperature control and used for laboratory tasks that require precise temperature regulation. Made from borosilicate glass and have a jacket for temperature control. Jacketed beakers are great for experiments that involve exothermic or endothermic reactions as they maintain a stable temperature throughout the process.
In summary, lab beakers come in many types, each for specific lab uses. By choosing the right type of beaker, lab professionals can get accurate and fast results in their experiments. Whether you need a beaker for heating, mixing, measuring or storing liquids, there’s one for your lab needs.
Borosilicate Glass Beakers
Borosilicate glass is a type of glass that has boron trioxide which has very low coefficient of thermal expansion. This means it won’t crack under extreme temperature changes unlike regular glass. It has high shock resistance so borosilicate glass beakers can withstand extreme temperature changes without breaking. It’s perfect for making laboratory glassware because of its excellent thermal and chemical stability. It can withstand heating applications well and is acid resistant so laboratory glassware are great for experiments with harsh chemicals.
Applications: Borosilicate glass is used to make beakers, test tubes and other vessels that will be heated directly or will undergo sudden temperature changes. Benefits: The main advantage of borosilicate glass is its toughness and shock resistance. This means containers made from borosilicate glass can be heated to high temperatures without breaking.
Plastic Graduated Beaker
These beakers are a versatile and durable alternative to glass beakers, used in educational settings or for mixing where precision heating is not required.
Types: These come in many sizes including 50 ml, 100 ml, 250 ml and 1000 ml each for specific volume requirements in laboratory uses.
Features: Many plastic ones have easy pouring spouts and are graduated. They are designed in low form for stability and tall form for applications with smaller volumes and less space.
Design and Functionality
Spouts: Many beakers, whether borosilicate glass or plastic, have spouts to facilitate easy pouring of liquids which is critical in preventing spills and precise measurements.
Low Form: These are available in low form and tall form. Low beakers are more stable and good for general mixing and heating applications, tall form beakers are better for smaller volumes of liquids and more precise pouring.
Graduations: Most are graduated with measurements in ml for accurate volume measurement during experiments.
Size Variations: Beakers are lab equipment that comes in many volumes, small sizes like 50 ml, 100 ml and 1000 ml for minor reactions and larger sizes like 250 ml and 1000 ml for bulk chemical handling and reactions.
Decrease Quantity and Increase Quantity: In a lab setting, being able to decrease quantity or increase quantity of a substance is important. Beakers allow measured adjustment of mixtures, for the precise nature of scientific experiments where you need to decrease liquid.
Heating Applications
Borosilicate glass Beakers: Borosilicate glass beakers are used for heating applications as they can withstand high temperatures without deforming or breaking. Features for Heating: These can be placed directly on a hot plate or over a flame and are often heat treated for mechanical washing after use.
Chemical Resistance
Good for Strong Acids and Solvents: Borosilicate glass is chemical resistant, good for storing and mixing strong acids and solvents that can degrade other materials or excite other materials.
Selecting the Right Labware
Material and Volume Considerations: When choosing labware, consider the chemical compatibility and class and physical requirements of the experiment. The choice between glass and plastic and the volume should match the experimental needs.
Stock and Availability: Lab needs to manage their inventory well, make sure beakers are always in stock and ready for use. This means regular check and timely replenishment.
Maintenance Tips
Cleaning and Storage: Proper maintenance extends the life of labware. Glass beakers should be cleaned thoroughly to prevent cross contamination between experiments. Beakers made from plastic, though less fragile, also need to be cleaned and stored properly to prevent material degradation.
Labware like beakers made of borosilicate glass or plastic is the backbone of scientific experiments and lab supplies. Knowing the types of labware and the class and their properties and applications will teach you that labs can do many experiments with precision and safety. Whether for educational or high level research, proper selection, use and maintenance of labware is key to overall efficiency and success.
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