1. By: Anthoney Tetreault
How to use a Crucible?
By: Anthoney Tetreault

2. Using the Crucible Hold small amounts of chemicals
Heating at high temperatures
The lid covers the bowl so nothing escapes
Keep oxygen out of the reaction

3. Techniques for using Crucibles
The cover can be tilted slightly to let hot gases escape easily
The crucible should be heated slowly
With the Bunsen burner held at a distance at first
Then brought in closer as the crucible gets warmer
The crucible can be heated until it is red hot
Bunsen burner is centered underneath the crucible
The flame is turned up high and comes in contact with the bottom of the crucible

4. Techniques for using Crucibles Cont.
Place hot crucible on wire gauze
A cold surface may crack the crucible
It will ruin your experiment
Dirt, and paint, are easily fused onto the hot porcelain, changing its mass.

5. About Crucible
Crucibles are very hot when you first put them on the wire
Let them cool down to room temperature before weighing
See if it is safe to weigh by bringing your hand over the crucible
Feel for the heat to rise at first
The crucible will be cool enough when you can let your hand barely touch the lid

6. Cleaning a Crucible Step 1
GENTLY SCRAPE RESIDUE LEFT THE MATERIALS USED IN YOUR EXPERIMENT FROM THE CRUCIBLE
Step 2
FILL YOUR PORCELAIN CRUCIBLE WITH POTASSIUM BICARBONATE; YOU SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH BICARBONATE IN THE CRUCIBLE TO FILL PAST THE LINE OF THE REMAINING MATERIAL FROM YOUR EXPERIMENTS

7. Cleaning a Crucible Step 3
PLACE CRUCIBLE ON A BURNER. HEAT THE CRUCIBLE UNTIL THE BICARBONATE MELTS. HEAT IT UNTIL A LAYER OF RED POTASSIUM SALT APPEARS ON THE SURFACE. USING A MIXING ROD, STIR THE MELT A FEW TIMES. THE ENTIRE MELTING PROCEDURE SHOULD TAKE ABOUT ONE MINUTE.
Step 4
REMOVE YOUR CRUCIBLE FROM THE FLAME. POUR OUT THE MELT.
Step 5
RINSE THE CRUCIBLE IN HOT WATER. FOR PORCELAIN CRUCIBLES, USE A CLEAN CLOTH TO DRY THE SURFACE.

8. Works Cited