Tools for Studying Living Things

Balances (Electric and Triple Beam) Used to measure mass.

Beaker Glass or plastic. Liquid measurements. Often measured in mL

Bunsen Burner Used to heat materials in a lab situation. May be fueled by gas or other fuel source.

Flint Strikers Used to light bunsen burners. Quick squeeze on handle creates sparks.

Flask There are many different shapes and sizes for containing materials used in lab investigations.

Erlenmeyer Flask Reduces the rate of evaporation of liquids. Can be more easily “stoppered” than other containers.

Evaporating Dish The evaporating dish is ceramic and can be heated to high temperatures.

Filter Paper Often used in the preparation of wet mount slides. Also used in paper chromatography

Forceps You may refer to them as tweezers. Different types. Used to hold small objects, dissecting, clamping tubing, etc.

Used to pour liquids from one container to another. Funnel Used to pour liquids from one container to another.

Graduated Cylinder Glass or plastic. Many sizes and volumes. Most often measures in mL (milliliters)

Hand Lenses (Magnifiers) Used to enlarge the image of objects.

Hot Plates Used for heating materials.

Measuring Devices Rulers Meter Stick Meter Tapes Stop Watch/Timer

Used to magnify very small objects for human study. Compound Microscope Used to magnify very small objects for human study.

Dissecting Microscope With lower magnification than a compound microscope, usually from 10X up to 180X, a dissecting or stereo microscope (they show a 3D stereo vision of objects) is generally used to identify macroscopic things such as insects, soil samples or even postage stamp flaws and errors!

Microscope Slide Used to view specimens under a light microscope. Glass or plastic.

Cover Slips Covers specimens on slides.

Light Source Sends light through microscope slide in order to able it to be viewed.

Lens Paper Used to clean the occular lens of a microscope. May also be used to clean slides.

Lab Apron Covers and protects clothing during laboratory exercises.

Safety Goggles Protects the eyes splashes, spills, flame, flying debris, etc. Goggles must be worn when indicated by the teacher.

Safety Gloves Protects the skin from chemicals or other materials.

pH Paper Many varieties. Can be simple acid or base indicators. Can specifically determine the pH of a material.

Prepared Slides Professionally created slides of specimens to be viewed under a microscope.

Pipettes/Droppers Used to transfer materials from one container to another. May be graduated or not. Can be made of glass with rubber bulb or disposable plastic.

Petri Dishes To culture bacterial colonies on a medium. (“to grow germs”)

Attaches to the ring stand to hold various laboratory equipment. Ring Clamp Attaches to the ring stand to hold various laboratory equipment.

Ring Stand The “ring” attaches to the ring stand to allow for items, such as a beaker, to be placed above a heat source or other device.

Test Tube Clamp Aids in holding test tubes. Allows for material within test tubes to be heated.

Stirring Rod Used to stir materials. Often made of glass so that it will not react with any chemicals involved. Therefore, is fragile.

Spatulas Used to transfer solid materials from one location to another. Ex. Source beaker into test tube.

Chemical Scoop Used to transfer materials from one location to another. Many different sizes, shapes, volumes.

Rubber Stopper Cork Stopper Stoppers seals flasks or test tubes

Test Tubes Used to hold, mix, heat, chill, etc. various materials for experimentation.

Test Tube Rack Holds test tubes upright for experimentation.

Used to clean the interiors of test tubes. Test Tube Brush Used to clean the interiors of test tubes.

Thermometers Alcohol Digital

Tongs Used to hold test tubes, beakers or other lab equipment.

Crucible Can be heated to extremely high temperatures.

Watch Glass A watch glass is used to hold a small amount of solid, such as the product of a reaction.

Spot Plate Can be used to keep materials separate. Testing samples of materials.

Wire Gauze with ceramic centers Placed above a heat source (ex. Bunsen burner) often on a ring stand. Beaker or flask is placed on the ceramic center for even heating.

Wood Splints Can be used as stirring rods. Often used to light bunsen burners if flint strikers are not available. Variety of other uses.

Other materials and apparatuses Aquarium Computer Centrifuge Incubator Water Bath Gooseneck Lamp

Laboratory Safety Symbols Biohazard Warning Radiation Flammable Substances Toxic

Biohazard Biohazards are infectious agents or hazardous biological materials that present a risk or potential risk to the health of humans, animals ro the environment. The risk can be direct through infection or indirect through damage to the environment.

Radiation Radiation is energy that comes from a source and travels through some material or through space. Contamination occurs when material that contains radioactive atoms is deposited on skin, clothing, or any place where is it not desired.

Toxic The skull-and-crossbones symbol, consisting of a human skull and two bones crossed together under the skull, is today generally used as a warning of danger, particularly in regard to poisonous substances.

Warning Item or device requires use of caution.

Flammable Substances A substance that will ignite if it reaches its flash point and is provided with an ignition source. Flammable liquids have a flash point below 100° Fahrenheit (37.8°C) and can typically ignite at room temperature.

Others Safety Shower Environmental Hazard Electrical Hazard Hot Surface Warning Mr. Yuk