Lab Equipment

Petri dish A shallow glass or plastic cylindrical dish that biologists use to culture cells.

Inoculating loop Used to transfer microbes to a Petri dish for growing cultures of microorganisms in Agar jelly. Must be sterilized over an open flame.

Test tube and test tube holder A test tube is a piece of glassware open at the top with a U-shaped bottom. A test tube holder is used for handling hot test tubes.

Test tube brush Used for cleaning test tubes.

Test tube rack Used to hold test tubes.

Beakers A simple glass container for stirring, mixing and heating liquids commonly used in labs.

Erlenmeyer Flask An Erlenmeyer flask features a conical base and a cylindrical neck. The neck allows the flask to be plugged with a cork or rubber stopper.

Stir rod A glass rod used to mix and stir solutions in a beaker or flask.

Thermometer Used to measure temperature.

Graduated cylinder A tall, cylindrical piece of glass or plastic ware used for accurately measuring precise volumes of liquids.

Eye dropper Used to transfer small volumes of liquid.

Hot plate Used for heating liquids in a beaker or flask.

Glass slides and cover slips Glass slides are used to place a specimen on in order to view under a microscope. Cover slips protect the microscope lens from the specimen and also create an even thickness when viewing wet mounts.

Mortar and pestle Used to crush and grind solids into a fine powder.

Scalpel A small, extremely sharp knife used for dissecting.

Forceps Tool used for picking up small objects that are too small to be easily handled with fingers.

Dissecting probe A slender dissecting tool used to explore an open cavity.