Lab equipment
56 flashcards covering Lab equipment for the ACT Science section.
Lab equipment refers to the essential tools and instruments used in scientific experiments to measure, observe, and manipulate materials. These include items like beakers for holding liquids, thermometers for measuring temperature, and microscopes for examining tiny specimens. By understanding lab equipment, you'll grasp how scientists collect accurate data and conduct reliable investigations, which is a foundational skill in biology, chemistry, and physics.
On the ACT Science section, lab equipment appears in passages involving data analysis, research summaries, or experimental procedures, often through questions that ask you to identify a tool's function, interpret results based on its use, or evaluate experimental setups. Common traps include mistaking similar items, like a graduated cylinder for a beaker, or overlooking how equipment errors can skew data. Focus on recognizing key tools, their purposes, and how they influence outcomes to handle these questions efficiently.
A concrete tip: Practice labeling diagrams of common lab tools to build quick recognition.
Terms (56)
- 01
Beaker
A wide-mouthed glass or plastic container with a flat bottom and a pouring lip, used for holding, mixing, or heating liquids in laboratory experiments.
- 02
Graduated cylinder
A tall, narrow vessel with calibrated volume markings along its side, designed to measure the volume of liquids more accurately than a beaker.
- 03
Test tube
A slender glass tube closed at one end, used to hold small quantities of substances for observation, mixing, or heating in chemical reactions.
- 04
Erlenmeyer flask
A conical flask with a narrow neck and flat bottom, allowing for easy swirling of liquids without spilling, often used in titrations or mixing.
- 05
Volumetric flask
A flask with a bulbous body and a long neck marked at a specific volume, used to prepare precise solutions by adding solvent up to the mark.
- 06
Bunsen burner
A gas-fueled laboratory device that produces a hot flame for heating substances, adjustable for different flame types like blue for complete combustion.
- 07
Microscope
An optical instrument that uses lenses to magnify small objects, allowing observation of cells, microorganisms, or fine details in biological samples.
- 08
Thermometer
A device that measures temperature by the expansion or contraction of a liquid, such as mercury or alcohol, in a sealed glass tube.
- 09
Balance
An instrument used to measure the mass of an object by comparing it to known weights, essential for accurate quantitative experiments.
- 10
Pipette
A slender tube used to transfer precise volumes of liquid, often calibrated for accuracy in experiments like dilutions or titrations.
- 11
Burette
A graduated glass tube with a stopcock at the bottom, used to dispense variable amounts of liquid precisely during titrations.
- 12
Funnel
A cone-shaped tool with a narrow stem, used to channel liquids or powders into containers with small openings, preventing spills.
- 13
Petri dish
A shallow, cylindrical, lidded dish made of glass or plastic, used for culturing microorganisms or observing biological growth in a controlled environment.
- 14
Centrifuge
A machine that spins samples at high speeds to separate components by density, such as separating solids from liquids in blood samples.
- 15
Spectrophotometer
An instrument that measures the amount of light absorbed by a sample at specific wavelengths, used to determine concentrations in solutions.
- 16
pH meter
An electronic device that measures the acidity or basicity of a solution by detecting hydrogen ion concentration, providing a numerical pH value.
- 17
Hot plate
An electric device with a flat heated surface, used for safely heating liquids or substances in beakers or flasks without an open flame.
- 18
Stirring rod
A glass or plastic rod used to manually mix solutions in containers, helping to dissolve solids or ensure uniform reactions.
- 19
Safety goggles
Protective eyewear designed to shield the eyes from chemical splashes, dust, or debris during laboratory procedures.
- 20
Lab apron
A protective garment worn over clothing to shield the body from spills, chemicals, or heat in a laboratory setting.
- 21
Gloves
Hand coverings made of latex, nitrile, or other materials, used to protect skin from hazardous substances or to maintain sterility.
- 22
Fire extinguisher
A portable device containing agents like foam or powder to suppress fires, a critical safety tool for handling flammable materials.
- 23
Eye wash station
A fixture with a basin and running water, used to rinse eyes immediately in case of chemical exposure to prevent injury.
- 24
Fume hood
An enclosed ventilated workspace that draws away harmful vapors and fumes from experiments involving volatile chemicals.
- 25
Desiccator
A sealed container with a drying agent, used to store substances in a dry environment by removing moisture from the air.
- 26
Mortar and pestle
A bowl-shaped container and a club-like tool used to grind solids into powders for mixing or preparing samples.
- 27
Filter paper
A porous paper used in a funnel to separate solids from liquids by allowing the liquid to pass through while retaining the solid.
- 28
Crucible
A heat-resistant container, often made of porcelain or ceramic, used for holding substances during high-temperature processes like melting.
- 29
Ring stand
A metal stand with a clamp and ring, used to hold glassware steady over a heat source or for supporting apparatus during experiments.
- 30
Watch glass
A circular, concave glass dish used to cover beakers, evaporate liquids, or hold small amounts of solids for observation.
- 31
Separatory funnel
A glass funnel with a stopcock and tapered shape, used to separate immiscible liquids by allowing the denser layer to drain out.
- 32
Condenser
A device with cooled tubes that converts vapors back into liquid, commonly used in distillation to collect purified substances.
- 33
Autoclave
A pressurized device that uses steam to sterilize equipment and materials at high temperatures, essential for biological labs.
- 34
Electrophoresis apparatus
A setup with a gel and electric field to separate molecules by size and charge, used in analyzing DNA or proteins.
- 35
Refractometer
An instrument that measures the refractive index of a substance, helping to determine concentrations of solutions like sugars.
- 36
Common error with graduated cylinders
Parallax error occurs when reading the meniscus at an angle, leading to inaccurate volume measurements if not viewed at eye level.
- 37
How to read a thermometer
To accurately measure temperature, observe the liquid level at the center of the scale, ensuring the thermometer is not touching container sides.
- 38
Calibrating a pH meter
The process involves using standard buffer solutions of known pH to adjust the meter's readings for accurate measurements in experiments.
- 39
Using a Bunsen burner safely
Always light the burner with the air hole closed for a yellow flame, then adjust for a blue flame, and never leave it unattended.
- 40
Pipette volume accuracy
Pipettes must be used with the correct technique, such as releasing the plunger slowly, to ensure the exact volume is dispensed without bubbles.
- 41
Meniscus in liquid measurement
The curved surface of a liquid in a narrow container, which should be read at the bottom for water-like liquids to get the true volume.
- 42
Balance zeroing procedure
Before weighing, ensure the balance is set to zero with nothing on it to avoid adding the weight of residues or previous samples to the measurement.
- 43
Microscope magnification
Total magnification is calculated by multiplying the eyepiece magnification by the objective lens magnification, such as 10x times 40x equals 400x.
- 44
Distillation setup
Involves a boiling flask, condenser, and collection flask; heat causes vaporization and condensation to separate liquids by boiling point.
- 45
Titration endpoint
The point in a titration where the indicator changes color, signaling that the exact amount of titrant has been added to neutralize the solution.
- 46
Centrifuge speed and time
Higher speeds separate denser particles faster, but over-spinning can damage samples, so follow protocol for optimal separation.
- 47
Spectrophotometer absorbance
Absorbance is measured as the amount of light blocked by a sample, following Beer's Law where it correlates with concentration.
- 48
Example of using a burette
In a titration, a burette dispenses acid into a base until the endpoint, allowing precise calculation of the acid's concentration.
For 25 mL of base, it might take 20 mL of acid to reach neutrality.
- 49
Filter paper in filtration
It traps solid particles while allowing liquid to pass, as in separating precipitate from a solution after a reaction.
- 50
Crucible in heating experiments
Used to hold samples for ignition or calcination, withstanding temperatures up to 1000°C without breaking.
- 51
Ring stand application
Supports a funnel during gravity filtration, keeping it stable over a flask to collect filtrate without tipping.
- 52
Desiccator for drying
Stores hygroscopic chemicals to prevent moisture absorption, maintaining their dry state for accurate weighing.
- 53
Separatory funnel for extraction
Shakes two immiscible liquids to transfer solutes, then drains the lower layer for purification in organic chemistry.
- 54
Autoclave sterilization time
Typically runs for 15-20 minutes at 121°C to kill bacteria and spores on lab tools.
- 55
Electrophoresis gel preparation
Mix agarose or polyacrylamide with buffer, pour into a mold, and let it solidify to create a medium for molecule separation.
- 56
Refractometer in food science
Measures sugar content in juices by the bending of light, with higher concentrations causing greater refraction.