Laboratory Apparatus and Instruments
Apparatus and Instruments for Heating.
Most common source of heat in the laboratory is the Bunsen burner.
Other heat sources include portable burners, kerosene stoves, spirit lamps, candles and electric hot plates.
Spirit lamp | Candle | Electric hot plate | Portable burner | Kerosene stove |
Observing A Bunsen burner
Parts of a Bunsen Burner
Functions of the parts of a Bunsen burner
Collar | Regulates amount of air entering the Bunsen burner through the air hole. | Collar | Regulates amount of air entering the Bunsen burner through the air hole. |
Air hole | Allows air to enter the chimney. (air mixes with the gas making flame hotter and blue. | Air hole | Allows air to enter the chimney. (air mixes with the gas making flame hotter and blue. |
Chimney (barrel) | Raises the flame to a suitable height for burning. | Chimney (barrel) | Raises the flame to a suitable height for burning. |
Base | Supports the Bunsen burner and prevent it from toppling. | Base | Supports the Bunsen burner and prevent it from toppling. |
Gas hose | The flexible hose pipe connects the Bunsen burner and the gas tap. | Gas hose | The flexible hose pipe connects the Bunsen burner and the gas tap. |
Flame | A hot glowing mass of ignited gas that is generated by something on fire. | Flame | A hot glowing mass of ignited gas that is generated by something on fire. |
Gas inlet | Controls the flow of gas to the Bunsen burner. | Gas inlet | Controls the flow of gas to the Bunsen burner. |
Gas inlet28
Apparatus and Instruments for Measuring Mass
Various instruments are used to measure mass.
Mass can be measured Using a beam balance, electronic balance and weighing balance.
Electric balance | Beam balance | Weighing balance |
Apparatus and Instruments for Temperature.
Temperature is defined as the hotness or coldness of any object or substance.
Kelvin (K) is the SI units for temperature.
Apart from Kelvin, temperature is also measured using the Celsius scale (oC) and Fahrenheit scale (oF)
A laboratory thermometer is the instrument used to measure temperature in the laboratory.
Apparatus and Instruments for Measuring Length.
Length of an object in the laboratory is mostly measured using the metre rule, 15 cm ruler, 30 cm ruler and the tape measure
Metre rule | Tape measure |
Apparatus and Instruments for Measuring Volume.
In the laboratory various instruments are used to measure volume of liquids.
Examples of these instruments include:
Conical flask.
Syringe.
Beaker.
Burette.
Graduated cylinder.
Pipette.
Volumetric flask.
Conical flask | ||
Volumetric Flask |
Apparatus and Instruments for Magnification.
Hand lens
It is a lens of specified magnification fixed on a frame.
When a hand lens is moved up (far) and down (close) over a specimen, it enlarges up to the sharpest image where you can clearly view the specimen and the viewer can observe particular details.
Hand lens have a limited magnification of between X5 and X10.
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to magnify (enlarge) small objects for clear visibility.
Plant and animal cells are too small to be viewed with naked eyes, therefore a microscope is used to view the cells.
Parts of the Microscope
Functions of different parts of the Microscope
PART | USE/FUNCTION |
Eyepiece lens | Used to observe specimen under the microscope. |
Body tube | It holds the eyepiece lens and the objective lens in position allowing light from the specimen to pass to the observer. |
Stage | It is where the specimen is placed during examination or viewing. |
Arm | It supports the body tube and the lenses. It is also used to carry the microscope when moving it from one place to another. |
Fine adjustment knob | Moves the body tube hence bringing the object (specimen) into focus. |
Coarse adjustment | Brings the object further through a long distance. |
Objective lens | It magnifies the object or specimen after the eyepiece lens. |
Revolving nose piece | It holds objective lenses in position. |
Diaphragm | It regulates (controls) the amount of light entering the stage. |
Condenser | It concentrates light onto the stage from a source. |
Base | Supports the entire microscope firmly. |
Stage clips | It holds the specimen on the slide in position during observation. |
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