Tools of a Scientist Purpose: I will be able to identify science lab tools and explain why we use them.

Taking Notes Take Notes using a sheet of paper from your 3-ring binder. These notes will be placed under the Divider Tab (Habits of Science) Notes should be written using “Cornell Style” (see example below)

Ruler 1 cm 1mm Rulers measure length, width, height, and distance. Record measurements in millimeters, centimeters, or meters. (We rarely use the inches side)

Triple Beam Balance Triple beam balance is an instrument used to measure mass very precisely. The device has reading error of +/- 0.05 gram. Record measurements in grams (g).

Thermometer Thermometers – Measure temperature, converts a physical change into a numeric value. Units are recorded in degree’s Celsius and Fahrenheit.

Beaker Beakers hold solids or liquids that will not release gases when reacted or are unlikely to splatter if stirred or heated.

Erlenmeyer Flask Erlenmeyer flasks hold solids or liquids that may release gases during a reaction or that are likely to splatter if stirred or heated. (Use when a substance could produce splatter)

Graduated Cylinder A graduated cylinder is used to measure volumes of liquids.

Test Tubes 13 x 100 mm test tubes Used for holding small amounts of liquid. Sometimes reactions are done in test tubes. 10 x 75 mm test tubes

Parafilm Flexible, thermoplastic, rolled, waterproof sheet interwound with paper to prevent adhering. Adheres quickly and firmly to itself, covering culture tube or flask mouths and sealing petri dish edges.

Test Tube Holder A test tube holder is useful for holding a test tube which is too hot to handle.

Test Tube Brushes Test tube brushes are used to clean test tubes and graduated cylinders. Forcing a large brush into a small test tube will often break the tube.

Test Tube Racks Test tube racks are for holding and organizing test tubes on the laboratory counter. Plastic racks may melt in contact with very hot test tubes.

Spot Plates Spot plates are used when we want to perform many small scale reactions at one time.

Glass Stir Rod A glass rod is used to manually stir solutions. It can also be used to transfer a single drop of a solution.

Pipettes A pipette is a glass or plastic tube used to transfer a small volume of liquid (less than one mL). On top of each glass dropper is a “rubber bulb”

Forceps Forceps (or tweezers) are used to pick up small objects. Forceps are used for any situation where you have to grab a small item and cannot do it with your fingers

Funnel A funnel is used to aid in the transfer of liquid from one vessel to another.

Weighing Boat Weighing boats are used to weigh solids that will be transferred to another vessel.

Beaker Tongs Beaker tongs are used to move beakers containing hot liquids

Microscope Used to see small items not visual to the normal eye