Activity No.

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BASIC LABORATORY TECHNIQUES

INTRODUCTION

One of the requirements in performing various laboratory experiments is to know

the basic techniques in order to properly use the different laboratory apparatus. Simple
techniques can be helpful to successfully realize different scientific researches and the
knowledge these techniques is a plus when performing or innovating scientific procedures
or methods.

Proper technique in using different laboratory apparatus is a must to maximize

the function without risking the precision of these apparatus.

Different techniques such as reading a balance, volume measurement, filtration,

decantation, evaporation, and proper pipetting techniques together with the orientation
of the different terms frequently used in the laboratory will be discussed in this activity
to help students familiarize and perform the succeeding experiments with ease and
confidence.

OBJECTIVES
At the end of this activity, the students shall be able to:
1. Perform basic laboratory techniques such as how to use a laboratory balance,
volume measurement, filtration, decantation, evaporation, and proper
pipetting techniques; and
2. Set-up materials for proper laboratory techniques.
CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS

Chemicals Materials
Salt triple beam balance (1) 10 mL pipette (1) Iron stand
Sand top loading balance (1) Aspirator (1) Iron ring
analytical balance (1) 250 mL beaker (1) Wire gauze
crucible tong (2) 100 mL beaker (1) Bunsen burner
wax paper 4” x 5” (1) Stirring rod (2) Evaporating dish
(1) 200 mL Erlenmeyer (1) Funnel (1) watch glass
flask (1) Filter funnel (1) petri dish
(1) 100 mL graduated (1) Filter stand (1) wash bottle
cylinder

PROCEDURE
A. Laboratory Balance
A laboratory balance is used to determine the weight of an object. There are at
least three types of balance used in the laboratory name (a) Triple Beam Balance, (b)
Top Loading Balance, and (c) Analytical Balance all of which differ in design and in
their level of accuracy as shown below (see Fig. 1). There are two types of weighing
techniques that comes in handy when performing laboratory experiments namely: (1)
Direct Weighing and the (2) Indirect Weighing or Weighing by difference.

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 Rider
Measurement Tray Riders beam
Pointer

Zero mark

Adjustment
knob
Stainless
(a) Triple Beam Balance
steel Pan

LED display
screen
Level bulb adjust
Power/tare level
button
(b) Top Loading Balance
Three Glass
doors

Stainless
steel Pan
Level bulb
Power/Tare button
Balance adjust
level
(c) Analytical Balance
Figure 1. The different laboratory balances and their parts.

A.1 Direct Weighing

1. Using a 4” x 5” wax paper / petri dish, create three pieces of origami box
following the instructions below.
2. Place the box paper / petri dish in the triple beam balance and re-
zero/tare the balance.
3. Place a coin, prepared by the instructor, on the paper box.
4. Obtain the weight of the coin by reading the calibration of the balance
and record the data on the Data Sheet.
5. Repeat steps 1 – 5 but this time using the Top Loading Balance and
Analytical Balance using the same coin.
6. Compare data for the three balances.

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** * *

*
Step 1. Fold the side corner Step 2. Fold the bottom Paper with fold lines
inwards the paper. corner inwards the paper.

* *

* *

Origami box Step 4. Lock the origami box Step 3. Meet the horizontal
by folding the excess paper and vertical fold lines
outwards.

A.2 Indirect Weighing or Weighing by Difference

1. Create three origami box following the instruction above.
2. Place the paper / petri dish in the triple beam balance and record the
weight of the paper and label as Wt. of Paper box / Wt. of Petri dish
3. Place a coin on the paper box.
4. Obtain the weight of the coin by reading the calibration, label this data
as Wt. of Paper box / Wt. of Petri dish + Wt. of Coin.
5. Record the data on the Data sheet. The weight of the coin is the difference
between the Wt. of Paper box / Wt. of Petri dish + Wt. of Coin and Wt.
of Paper box.
6. Repeat steps 1 – 5 but this time using the Top Loading Balance and
Analytical Balance using the same coin.
7. Compare data for the three balances.

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B. Graduated Cylinder
A graduated cylinder is a cylindrical glass with a flat base bottom with calibrations
indicating the volume of the liquid being measured.

Figure 2. Graduated Cylinder

1. Measure 15 mL of distilled water using a 25-mL graduated cylinder.

2. Read the volume of the liquid by observing the lower meniscus as shown below.
Make sure to do an eye level reading of the lower meniscus.

Improper
position

X
Proper
position
X
Improper
position
3. Allow each member of the group to participate in the reading of the meniscus.
4. Repeat steps 1 – 3 but this time using the distilled water provided by the
instructor.
5. Record the volume of the water in the Data Sheet.

C. Pipette Reading
A pipette is a cylindrical glassware with a narrow tip (with or without calibrations)
is used for extracting and dispensing known volume of liquid with high precision and
accuracy. Pipettes are used together with aspirator or a safety bulb to vacuum the desired
amount of liquid up to the pipette from the solution.
Measuring pipette

Aspirator

Volumetric
pipette
Micropipette

Figure 3. Pipetting apparatus.

1. Report to the instructor before proceeding to this activity. This activity is a graded
demonstration. Read the instructions prior to performing the activity.

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2. Using a measuring pipette and an aspirator, pipette 15-mL of distilled water from
a beaker using the proper pipetting technique as shown below.

3. Adjust the meniscus of the liquid by slowly releasing the forefinger from the top
of the pipette as shown below.

Step 2. Adjust the

meniscus using
the forefinger

4. Dispense the desired volume of the liquid by releasing the forefinger on top of the
pipette in to a 250mL Erlenmeyer flask.

Step 3. Dispense
liquid into the
intended vessel

5. Repeat steps 2 – 4 until all the members of the group had performed this activity.

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D. Basic Separation Techniques: Filtration, Decantation, Evaporation
Filtration is a simple technique used to separate heterogeneous mixtures such as
liquids and solids (e.g. sand + water) by passing the heterogeneous solution into a semi-
permeable barrier such as Lenin or cloth. This method allows separation of fine
substances and is a very common technique for extraction and purification processes.
The most widely used semi-permeable barrier is the Filter paper. There are different
types of filter paper based on their quality or pore size ranging from 11µm to 2µm pore
size. Shown below is the set-up of a common filtration process.

Iron stand

Glass Funnel

Iron ring

Beaker

Figure 4. Filtration Set-up.

Decantation, on the other hand, is another process of separation which is much

simpler in terms of set-up and materials used as compared to filtration. Here the
heterogeneous mixture (e.g. solid + liquid) is separated by allowing the denser component
to suspend at the bottom of the solution before separation as shown below.

. . . . .
. . . . .
.
. . . . .
.
Heterogeneous mixture Allow to settle
Decant solution
insoluble solute
using a stirring rod
Figure 5. Decantation process.

Evaporation is a type of vaporization that occurs on the surface of the liquid when
the liquid changes its phase to a gaseous phase at the liquids boiling point. Evaporation
is also classified as another type of separation technique for separating the solute from a
homogeneous solution (e.g. salt from salt solution). Shown below is the set-up for the
evaporation process.

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 Iron stand

Iron ring
Wire gauze

Bunsen burner

Figure 6: Evaporation Set-up

1. Mix 0.1000 g of table salt and 0.1000 g of sand in a 250-mL Beaker containing
20 mL water and stir to dissolve salt. Prepare two solutions and label “sample 1”
and “sample 2”.
2. Follow the filtration set-up as shown in Figure 4.
3. Create a paper cone using an ordinary filter paper following the instructions
below. Fit the paper cone into the filter funnel.

* * *

Tear this part

4. Obtain the weight of the evaporating dish using a analytical balance and record
in the Data Sheet as Wt. Evap. dish.

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5. Filter the sand in “sample 1” into a pre-weighed evaporating dish. The filtered
solution in the evaporating dish is called the filtrate while the sand stuck in the
filter paper is called the residue.
6. Using the set-up in Figure 6, heat the filtrate until the solution dries up and salt
crystals appear.
7. Cool the evaporating dish with salt crystals salts for about 2-3 minutes.
8. Weigh the evaporating dish with salt crystals in the same analytical balance and
record in the Data Sheet as Wt. Evap. Dish + Wt. of Salt final.
9. The weight of recovered salt after filtration will be the difference of Wt. Evap. Dish.
+ Wt. of Salt final and Wt. Evap. Dish.
10. Collect the salt crystals in the evaporating dish and place it into the salt container.
11. Wash the evaporating dish with distilled water and let dry.
12. Allow the sand to settle at the bottom of the beaker of “sample 2” before
decantation.
13. Decant “sample 2” directly into the dried evaporating dish separate the sand and
the solution as shown in figure 5.
14. heat the decanted solution until the solution dries up and salt crystals appear.
15. Repeat steps 7 – 11 and make sure to record all the necessary data on the Data
Sheet.

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Group No.: _____ Date Performed: _______
Name: _____________________ Date Submitted: _______
Section: ________________ Instructor: ____________
Score: ______/50 pts
Rating: ______

Activity No. 2
4
BASIC LABORATORY TECHNIQUES

A. Laboratory Balance

A.1 Direct Weighing

Wt. of Coin Observation
Type of Balance
(1 pt each) (2 pts each)

Triple Beam
Balance

Top Loading
Balance

Analytical Balance

A.2 Indirect Weighing or Weighing by Difference (1 pt each)

Wt. of Paper Wt. of Paper Box
Type of Balance Box / Wt. of / Wt. of Petri dish Wt. of Coin (g)
Petri dish (g) + Wt. of Coin (g)

Triple Beam
Balance

Top Loading
Balance

Analytical Balance

1. Which of the balances is the most accurate? (1 pt)

2. Arrange each balance in terms of increasing accuracy. (3 pts)

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B. Graduated Cylinder

Volume of Water: _______________ (3 pts)

What is the correct orientation when reading volumes using a graduated cylinder?
(2 pts) __________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

C. Pipette Reading (3 pts each)

Pipetting Techniques Points

Proper holding of pipette

Proper reading of meniscus

Proper adjustment of volume and

dispensing

D. Basic Separation Techniques (1pt each)

Wt. Evap.
Separation Wt. Evap. Wt. of Salt Wt. of Salt
Dish. + Wt.
Technique Dish. (g) final (g) initial (g)
of Salt (g)

Filtration
0.1000

Decantation 0.1000

1) Calculate the % error of both separation techniques using the equation below:

% error = | Wt. of Salt initial – Wt. of Salt final | x 100

Wt. of Salt initial

a) Filtration Technique (3 pts)

% error =

b) Decantation Technique (3 pts)

% error =

2) Which separation technique is more efficient in separating the sand from the
solution? (2 pts)

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