Laboratory equipment: 23 essential objects and instruments

Most of the scientific advances of the last centuries have been possible thanks to the progressive technology and the effort of its application in the investigation of the phenomena of different branches or aspects of reality, generally through research experimental.

Although these investigations can be carried out in different ways and in different places, they are usually carried out in some type of laboratory, where the sufficient elements and conditions to generate experiments that can check or analyze samples, as well as reproduce under controlled conditions the phenomena or situations to be study.

And in this context highlights the need for adequate equipment and sufficient laboratory supplies. Throughout this article we are going to talk about the different elements that make up the latter, at least with regard to the most basic of what is usually available in general.

• Related article: "The 15 types of research (and characteristics)"

Laboratory equipment: basic objects

We can understand by laboratory material the set of utensils and instruments that a laboratory needs to be able to carry out carry out the necessary research or experimentation in order to generate knowledge and analyze the phenomenon of reality that is being studying.

On the other hand, although the concept of laboratory is associated with the idea of ​​experimentation, it is necessary to clarify that technically Laboratory instruments are not only used in this type of research design, but also in other types of studies. For example, it is not uncommon to leave samples for observation to see how they behave over time, and this does not imply manipulating what is being investigated.

It must be taken into account that there are a great variety of types of laboratory, each of them requiring specialized material in the field of study in which they work: they do not need the same type of material from a physics laboratory as a chemistry laboratory, for example. The material listed below is the one that is usually considered the most basic and the one most associated with the laboratory prototype, perhaps with an orientation toward chemistry, biology and medicine.

1. Test tube

This small transparent tube, which has a base that allows support, and its main function is to measure the volume of a liquid or a solid (by the Archimedes' principle). It is one of the pieces of fundamental material in any laboratory, and researchers in the fields of Chemistry, Biology and allied sciences use them constantly when they are in an experimental or observing context of substances or microorganisms.

2. Test tube

A type of tube, similar to the test tube but without a base, into which liquids, solutions, or samples are usually poured to analyze or experiment with. The test tube tends to be smaller than the average cylinder, and it is easier to transport and store (with the use of the instrument that we will see next).

3. Rack / grid

When we use test tubes it is necessary to be able to leave them in a fixed place from which to work, given that they do not have a support base. That is why a grid or rack can be very useful to deposit them, especially when we have several samples.

The racks can take different shapes and sizes depending on the number of tubes they contain and the criteria used to classify them into various categories.

4. Microscope

Although the first laboratories did not have this material, the invention of the microscope was a revolution at the level scientific, allowing the examination of matter, its composition and structure and its interaction with the environment at a level indistinguishable from the human eye.

Today there are few laboratories that do not have one. In addition, technological development in recent years has led to the design of microscopes capable of even to see all the details of the organelles of cells and parts of organisms unicellular.

5. Petri dish

Small round, transparent container with a lid, which is commonly used to place tissue, bacteria and cell samples to later generate cultures.

The petri dish often provides an easy way to see the growth or decline patterns of populations of bacteria, which are sometimes visible to the naked eye on the smooth surface of the Petri.

6. Burette

Elongated instrument similar to a mixture between test tube and funnel, the burette allows to determine the volume of a liquid or solution as well as a handle or stopcock to allow the regulation of the passage of the liquid.

7. Slides

Similar to the previous one, a slide is usually a small, thin glass or plastic plate on which it is placed a minimal portion of the sample to be analyzed (for example, a drop of blood), in order to be able to observe it by the microscope.

8. Pipette

Laboratory instrument usually made of glass or plastic that allows us to measure the volume of a substance that we can pour in a controlled way at one of its ends, being able to easily determine the amount of substance that has come out of it.

9. Flask

A larger container, usually shaped like a test tube with a flared closed end, is used to hold, mix, or distill substances. They exist of diverse types, being one of the best known the one of Erlenmeyer.

10. Funnel

Especially in chemistry, there are often different types of funnels which allow the different compounds to be mixed in a controlled manner or to separate solids from liquids. The decantation feature stands out (which allows you to regulate the amount of substance that is filtered with a handle).

11. Shaker / mixer

A stirrer is understood to be any instrument that allows, through its movement, the uniform mixing of the samples with which it is worked.

Traditionally, a rod was used, but today there are electronic mixers or mixers with different mechanisms, many of which use electromagnets.

12. Scale

Being able to accurately weigh what we are studying is basic in a large number of scientific disciplines, which is why a scale or balance (currently being mostly digital) are instruments basic.

13. Tweezers

Tweezers are very necessary in a laboratory, generally in order to hold a specific instrument or move some elements of the samples that we are analyzing. There is a wide variety of grippers depending on whether gripping force or precision is prioritized.

14. Scalpel

Especially in sciences such as medicine or chemistry, it may be necessary to make precise cuts to reach or separate a sample of the matter to be analyzed (for example to do a biopsy). In this sense, a scalpel is essential to separate some organic tissues from others.

15. Spatula

With an appearance similar to that of a round knife, it is a useful instrument to collect small solids in the form of powder.

16. lime

Sometimes it may be necessary to file an object or material in order to extract a small sample or even to cut a specific material.

17. Teaspoon

Something as basic as a teaspoon is also a useful instrument in a laboratory, especially if we are making some kind of solution that requires the use of some element chemical powder.

18. Brush

The cleaning of laboratory equipment, both before and after use, is something essential that in fact can greatly alter the results of experimentation or analysis. That is why a brush that allows for example to clean flasks or test tubes is essential.

19. Wash-bottle

In general, in order to clean the material used, we will need something more than the brush, being necessary to apply water to clean it. The washing bottle is usually filled with distilled water or some type of alcohol, allowing a comfortable application on the instruments.

20. Lighter / lighter / stove

In many experiments and with many substances and chemical reactions, it may be necessary to heat the components to be used, or even cause them to ignite. Obviously we are talking about our own laboratory material, not about employees on a day-to-day basis.

21. Thermometer

Knowing the temperature at which a substance or sample is can be essential to be able to study it correctly or even to be able to preserve it (for example in the case of organs or living cells such as sperm). In this sense, the use of some type of thermometer is useful.

• You may be interested in: "The 7 most important types of thermometers"

22. Dropper

Another instrument that, although extremely simple, is common in different types of laboratory. However, it must be borne in mind that the amount of substance that is expelled can be more or less precise and that different instruments can sometimes have the same function (such as the handle on a funnel decantation).

23. Computer

This instrument may seem obvious, but the truth is that the computing power of a computer allows to record and even automate specific processes to be used during experimentation with a level of precision and detail that could cost a human being much more time get. In most cases a normal PC but with specialized software for data analysis is sufficient, but in cases The volume of information with which one works is such that supercomputers such as those that have some universities.

Bibliographic references:

• Atkins J. and Jones, L. (2012). Principles of Chemistry. The paths of discovery, 5th Ed. Editorial Médica Panamericana, Madrid.
• Bawer JD. (1996). Clinical Analysis, Methods and Interpretation. Barcelona. Ed. I reversed.
• Patnaik, P. (2003). Dean's Handbook of Analytical Chemistry. New York: McGraw-Hill.
• Vinck, D. (2010). The sociology of scientific work. The Lypiatts: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.