Hobbies And Interests
Glassware
The unusual designs of laboratory glassware result from a wide variety of specialized functions. Graduated cylinders have straight sides to allow scientists to measure volumes precisely at a glance. Erlenmeyer flasks -- tempered glass containers with wide, flat bottoms and narrow necks -- have a large surface area that lets liquids inside them heat quickly. Bottom-heavy volumetric flasks contain a specific amount of a liquid, while straight-sided beakers fill a number of roles in the chemistry lab. Test tubes hold small amounts of liquid; their narrow shape and straight sides minimize evaporation. Watch glasses take their name from their resemblance to a watch's curved crystal face. They hold small amounts of solid chemicals and are non-reactive with most compounds. Glass stirring rods allow scientists to mix chemicals with a relatively non-reactive substance.
Heat Sources and Associated Equipment
Endothermic reactions require additional energy to drive them. In the chemistry lab, Bunsen burners -- open flame sources that use natural gas as a fuel -- typically supply that energy. Lab workers use a ring stand to hold objects over a Bunsen burner's flame; the ring stand has a heavy base that will safely support a heavy flask. Wire mesh allows chemists to hold a solid sample over the heat of a Bunsen burner. For powdered chemicals or for materials that reach their melting point during the course of the experiment, ceramic crucibles endure the burner's maximum temperature of around 2700 degrees F (1500 degrees C).
Safety Equipment
The chemicals that scientists and students encounter in a chemistry lab can be corrosive enough to damage clothing, skin and eyes. Lab coats aren't just for looks; they protect a worker's skin and clothes from any caustic chemicals that might spill while the scientist handles them. Protective eyewear keeps eyes safe from accidental splashes and spills. Eye-wash stations and showers provide emergency recourse to major chemical spills on skin. Fume hoods use negative air pressure to draw caustic vapors away from the work site; they resemble industrial versions of stove hoods.
Measuring Equipment
While glass measuring equipment works for liquids, solid chemicals require different measuring techniques. Scientists typically weigh solid chemicals on a balance, a finely calibrated scientific scale. Older analytical balances use sliding weights; newer digital versions display their read-outs electronically. A pH meter ascertains the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, while thermometers determine their temperature. For advanced laboratory work, a spectrophotometer measures the precise color and opacity of a liquid; for titration reactions and industrial uses, a spectrophotometer provides scientists with a more accurate reading than unaided eyes can deliver.