Laboratory equipment can be understood as the set of utensils and instruments that a laboratory needs to carry out the necessary research or experimentation in order to generate knowledge and examine the phenomenon of the truth being studied.
Research can be carried out in different ways and in different places, usually in some kind of laboratory, where sufficient elements and conditions are available to generate experiments that can test or analyse samples, as well as reproduce under controlled conditions the phenomena or situations to be studied.
And in this context, the need for adequate equipment and sufficient laboratory material stands out. Throughout this article we are going to talk about the different elements that make up the latter, at least with regard to the most basic elements that are generally available.
What is laboratory equipment for?
Laboratory equipment is another new area of technology that we have included in our product range. Laboratory equipment is the only way to carry out experiments, process control and quality control. Electronic measuring instruments or vacuum devices are the most important working tools in laboratory technology.
Test tubes
A test tube, culture tube or sample tube is a transparent cylindrical shape usually open at one end and closed at the other, shaped like a finger. They have been used since the early 19th century to contain and test various small-scale reactions.
They have a extensive variety of sensible makes use of in chemistry, bioscience, medication and more.
The spherical bottom prevents loss of mass, due to the lack of corners, when pouring the contents of the test tube and facilitates cleaning.
There are different types of materials for test tubes: glass, plastic, metal and ceramic. Glass and plastic are the most common. Some are designed to be reused, whilst others are disposable.
What is the classification of laboratory equipment?
The materials in a chemistry laboratory are diverse, so it is convenient to classify them in order to get to know their properties and to know their usefulness, application and handling. Materials may be labeled in numerous ways:
Taking into account their nature, i.e. what they are made of.
Depending on their weight, whether they are light or heavy materials.
According to whether they need to be replenished with a certain frequency or not.
According to the function of each material.
On the other hand, laboratory materials can be classified according to their nature, i.e. according to the raw materials they are made of. These can be: glass, plastic, porcelain, metal and cork.
Glass: Laboratory instruments made of this material are the most commonly used. They are characterized via way of means of their resistance to excessive temperatures, despite the fact that they may be attacked via way of means of hydrofluoric acid and at excessive temperatures via way of means of sturdy bases or alkalis and focused phosphoric acid.
- Plastic: Plastic: Plastic cloth has the benefit of being unbreakable and lightweight. Some plastics can hold liquids up to 130 °C, but cannot withstand direct flame and can be attacked by organic solvents and strong acids. Within this category there are several types, such as Teflon, which is a synthetically obtained tetrafluoroethylene polymer of high strength, which can withstand up to 300°C.
- Porcelain: Porcelain material is composed of vitrified ceramic with high thermal and mechanical resistance, which is why it is used in the manufacture of mortars and funnels.
- Metal: Metal material is often used to support or hold and collect solids; examples include metal spoons or spatulas.
- Cork: Cork is a material that comes from the cork oak tree. It was used in the manufacture of stoppers; however, rubber, rubber or plastic are increasingly used for stoppers.
Another factor to take into account in laboratory material may be its period of use:
- Expendable material: it has a more or less limited period of use. It can be disposable, i.e., single-use, or recoverable, since after use it is not disposed of and is used again. For example: graduated glass pipettes (retrievable), plastic or glass test tubes (retrievable), glass or plastic Pasteur pipettes (disposable) and goggles, gloves, masks (disposable).
- Inventoriable material: material that does not deteriorate rapidly and must be recorded in an inventory. It occupies a fixed place in the laboratory and when it is no longer in use or is changed, it must be written off. This group includes apparatus, protective equipment and furniture. For example: balance, desiccators, centrifuge, thermostatic baths, cookers, safety showers, eye wash fountains, chairs, tables, cupboards, fire extinguishers, etc.
Laboratory substances also can be labeled in line with the feature to be achieved or the usefulness and packages to be achieved with every of them. There are four main groups of materials:
- Volumetric: used for exact measurements.
- Non-volumetric: measures approximate volumes and is particularly used to warmth liquids, dissolve exclusive components…
- Specific use: it has very diverse, varied and specific functions.
- Support : it serves as an auxiliary detail for containing and assisting different substances.
Pipette tips (laboratory equipment)
A pipette tip is a laboratory instrument, usually made of glass or plastic, that allows us to measure the volume of a substance that we can pour in a controlled manner from one end of the tip and easily determine the amount of substance that has come out of it.
