Laboratory tools and equipment

Step I. Answer the following questions.

Ø What kind of laboratory tools or equipment do you know?

Ø What laboratory tools or equipment do you usually use when you have practice in your university laboratories?

Ø Have you ever been to any modern well-equipped laboratories with different kind of tools and equipment?

Step II. Let’s see how you are good at English names of laboratory equipment and tools. Match pictures with their names.

A.B., C.D.

E.F.G.H.

I. K.L.M.

A.________________________	G. __________________________
B.________________________	H. __________________________
C.________________________	I. __________________________
D.________________________	K. __________________________
E. ________________________	L. __________________________
F. ________________________	M. _________________________

Laboratory Equipment

Laboratory equipment refers to the various tools and equipment used by scientists working in a laboratory. These include tools such as Bunsen burners, and microscopes as well as special equipment such as spectrophotometers and calorimeters. Another important type of laboratory equipment is laboratory glassware such as the beaker or reagent bottle.

Laboratory equipment is generally used to either perform an experiment or to take measurements and gather data. Larger or more sophisticated equipment is generally called a scientific instrument.

Laboratory glassware refers to a variety of equipment, traditionally made of glass, used for scientific experiments and other work in science, especially in chemistry and biology laboratories. Some of the equipment is now made of plastic for cost and convenience reasons, but glass is still used for some applications because it is relatively inert, transparent, more heat-resistant, and relatively easy to customize. In some applications, especially some storage bottles, darkened brown or amber glass is used to keep out much of the UV and IR radiation so that the effect of light on the contents is minimized.

There are many different kinds of laboratory glassware items. Such glassware is used for a wide variety of functions which include volumetric measuring glassware, holding or storing chemicals or samples, mixing or preparing solutions or other mixtures, containing lab processes like chemical reactions, heating, cooling, distillation, separations and so on. When in use, laboratory glassware is often held in place with clamps made for that purpose, which are likewise attached and held in place by stands or racks.

Topical vocabulary:

amber ['æmbə] – янтарь; attach –прикреплять, присоединять; beaker ['biːkə] – лабораторный стакан; Bunsen burner [͵bʌns(ə)nʹbə:nə] – горелка Бунзена; calorimeter – калориметр; datum ['deɪtəm] – данное, pl. data; equipment [ɪ'kwɪpmənt] – оборудование; glassware ['glɑːsweə] – стеклянная посуда; inert [ɪ'nɜːt] – инертный; laboratory [lə'bɔrət(ə)rɪ] – лаборатория; microscope ['maɪkrəskəup] – микроскоп; measurement ['meʒəmənt] – измерение; mix смешивать, mixture – смесь; reagent bottle – флакон для реактивов; spectrophotometer [͵spektrəufəuʹtɔmıtə] – сектрофотометр; stand – стойка, штатив; tool – инструмент; transparent [trænʹspærənt] – прозрачный.

Step III. Find in the text English equivalents to the Russian word combinations:

лабораторное оборудование; спектрофотометр и калориметр; лабораторная стеклянная посуда; лабораторный стакан и флакон для реактивов; провести эксперимент; собрать данные; более сложное оборудование; научные эксперименты; сделанный из пластика; мерная стеклянная посуда.

Step IV. True or false.

1. Laboratory equipment doesn’t refer to the various tools and equipment used by scientists working in a laboratory.

2. Larger or more sophisticated equipment is generally called a non-scientific instrument.

3. Laboratory glassware is traditionally made of ceramic and plastic.

4. Laboratory glassware is used for scientific experiments and other work in science, especially in chemistry and biology laboratories.

5. There are a few different kinds of laboratory glassware items.

6. In some applications, especially some storage bottles, darkened brown or amber glass is used to keep out much of the UV and IR radiation.

7. Laboratory glassware is often held in place with clamps.

Step V. Fill in the gaps with the following words in their appropriate forms.

1. Laboratory ______ refers to a variety of equipment, traditionally made of glass, used for scientific ________ and other work in science, especially in chemistry and biology___________. There are many different kinds of laboratory glassware___________. 2. A _______________ is essentially a scaled-up test tube, being about 50% larger in every aspect. 3. A bottle is a small _________ with a ________ that is narrower than the body and a “mouth”.

Step VI. Fill the following schemes with suitable expressions. What are their Russian equivalents?

Step VII. Fill the following schemes with suitable expressions. What are their Russian equivalents?

Step VIII. Learn some information about new items of laboratory tools and equipment.

Pipette: used for measuring the volume of liquids

		Wire gauze: used to support other glassware over, for ex. a Bunsen burner				Pipet filler: used to draw a certain volume of liquid into the pipette
		Wash bottle: used to wash other Crucible tongs: used for picking up crucibles only containers
						Striker: used to light a Bunsen burner
						Chemical spoon: used to transfer solids from their containers to the scale for weighing
	Erlenmeyer flask: used to mix and hold chemicals				Filter funnel: used with filter paper to separate the solids from liquids
	Florance flask: used to boil liquids				Graduated cylinder: used to measure the volumes of liquids

Step IX. What is this?

1. Containers used for heating substances to very high temperatures are____________. They are generally made from materials such as porcelain, nickel, and alumina. 2. A pipe with a wide mouth that helps to pour substances into a container without spilling____________. In a chemistry lab, they are often used together with filters to separate a mixture. 3. A tall skinny cylinder used to measure volumes is a _______________. It is generally a more accurate way to measure volume than a typical beaker or flask. 4. A narrow glass tube used to transfer liquids from one place to another is a ____________. They sometimes are used for measurement. 5. A glass or plastic tube used for holding, mixing, and heating small quantities of liquid chemicals is a ___________. 6. It is used to support a beaker or flask when heating. It helps to spread the heat evenly. It is a _____________7. A glass container with a flat bottom and a small spout for pouring is a ______________. It is used in the chemistry lab for mixing, heating, and stirring liquids. They come in various sizes and are shaped like a cylinder. 8. A metal tube that produces a flame from gas such as methane, propane, or butane. It is used in the lab for heating and sterilizing. It is named after German chemist.

Step X. Answer the following questions:

1. What is laboratory equipment and laboratory glassware?

2. Why do scientists use laboratory equipment?

3. What is called scientific instrument?

4. What is made some laboratory equipment of?

5. Are there many different kinds of laboratory glassware items?

Step XI. Tell your class-mate about any lab equipment (how it works and its function, when scientists use it, for what purpose).

Step XII. Write an essay about the most modern and well-equipped laboratory in your faculty.

Fun Time

Lab equipment quiz

What is it?

a. stir rod;

b. pipette;

c. funnel;

d. dropper;

a. test tube rack;

b. wire gauze;

c. iron ring;

d. ring stand;

e. clay triangle.

a. crucible tongs;

b. spatula;

c. forceps;

d. test tube holder;

e. beaker tongs.

a. wire gauze;

b. ring stand;

c. iron ring;

d. utility clamp;

e. clay triangle

a. volumetric flask;

b. Erlenmeyer flask;

c. Florence flask;

d. graduated cylinder.

a. graduated cylinder;

b. volumetric flask;

c. beaker;

d. Erlenmeyer flask;

e. Florence flask.

a. ring stand;

b. clay triangle;

c. iron ring;

d. wire gauze;

e. test tube rack.

a. iron ring;

b. clay triangle;

c. test tube rack;

d. wire gauze;

e. ring stand