LABORATORY GLASSWARE

Laboratory glassware

● Composition-Made up of complex silicate

containing Boron Dioxide

● Ingredients with % -
● Silica-80.6%
● Boric Oxide-12.65%
● Sodium Oxide-41.5%
● Aluminium Oxide 2.2%
Cont.

● They are usually resistant to

● Acid and alkali (except Hydrofluoric Acid)
● Corrosion
● Temprature (>600 degree c )
● Radiation
● They have low coefficient of expansion
TYPES OF Laboratory
glassware
● High silica glass: Radiation resistant, have good
optical qualities, used for optical reflectors and
mirrors.

● Boron free glassware: Have less thermal resistance

and are resistant to alkali.

● LOW ACTINIC: They have material which impart red

colour to glass to decrease exposure of contents to
light Ex Bilirubin, Vit A, Carotene.

● FLINT GLASS: Soda lime glass (silicon+ Calcium+

Sodium oxide ), have poor resistance to increased
temp so easy to melt and shape
TYPES OF Laboratory glassware
Cont.
● COATED glassware : They contain metallic oxide bounded to surface of
glass,they conduct electricity ,they provide heat shield to protect against
infrared light

● OPTICAL GLASS : They contain Soda lime+ Lead + borosilicate and are used in
Prism, Lens, optical mirrors

● GLASS CERAMICS: They have increased thermal resistance, chemically stable,

and are used for table tops, heat exchangers.

● RADIATION ABSORBING: Contain Soda lime+ Lead, prevents transmission of

increased energy radiation.
Variety of glasswaress

● Beakers
● Flasks
● Burettes
● Test tubes
● Pipettes
● Graduated Cylinder
● Funnels
● Microcentrifuge Tubes
Beakers

● Beakers are cylindrical laboratory

containers with variable sizes
typically made of glass or plastic,
used for holding, mixing, and heating
liquids.
● They usually feature a flat bottom, a
spout for easy pouring, and
graduation marks on the side for
measuring volumes.
● While they are not designed for
precise measurements like graduated
cylinders, they are commonly used for
tasks where approximate volume is
sufficient.
Flask
● A flask is a laboratory
container typically used for
holding, mixing, or heating
liquids. Flasks come in
various shapes and sizes,
each designed for specific
applications.
● Erlenmeyer Flask:
Characterized by its conical
shape and narrow neck, it is
used for mixing solutions
and is less likely to spill
when swirling
● Volumetric Flask: Used for
precise volume
measurements, this flask
has a flat bottom and a long
neck with a single
graduation mark, making it
ideal for preparing standard
solutions
Adjustment of meniscus

● Done to get accurate volume

● A small piece of card that is half black and half white is most
useful for this.

● This card is placed 1 cm behind the apparatus with the white

half uppermost and the top of the black area about 1mm
below the meniscus.

● Meniscus then appear as a clearly define; thin black line

NOTE:-This device is also useful in reading the meniscus of a
buretts .
Burette

● A burette is a laboratory instrument designed for

dispensing precise volumes of liquid, primarily
used in titration experiments. It consists of a
long, graduated tube, usually made of glass or
plastic, with a stopcock at the bottom that
allows for controlled liquid release.
● The graduations along the side provide accurate
measurements, enabling users to determine the
volume dispensed with precision.
● As a critical tool in analytical chemistry, burettes
play a vital role in determining concentrations
through titration, where precise measurement of
reagents is essential.
Funnels
● Funnels are laboratory tools used to channel
liquids or fine-grained substances into
containers with small openings.

● They consist of a conical shape with a wide

top that narrows to a smaller opening at the
bottom.

● Funnels can be made from various materials,

including glass, plastic, or metal, depending
on the intended use.
 GRADUATED CYLINDERS
● Long cylindrical tubes with octa-
gonal or circular base
● Has calibration marks along its
length
● Size available : 10,25,50,100,
500,1000,2000 ml
● Use to measure volume of fluids
● Do not have accuracy of
volumetric glassware
 PIPETTS

● Most important glassware for a biochemist

● They are available from 0.1 ml to 25ml delivery volume size.

● Used for the transfer of a known volume of liquid from one

-
container to another .
Type
Types of pipettes
● Graduated Pipettes e.g Mohrs

● Marked with a scale to allow for the measurement of variable liquid volumes.

● Useful for transferring various amounts of liquids.

● Volumetric Pipettes

● They are characterized by their long, narrow shape and a single graduation mark, which indicates the exact

volume the pipette is designed to hold

● Calibrated to deliver a single, precise volume (e.g., 1,2,3,4,5 and 10ml ).

● Ideal for preparing standard solutions and in titrations.

● Micropipettes (1 to 1000ml)

● Used for measuring and transferring very small volumes, usually in microliters.

● Can be set to different volumes, allowing for flexibility in experiments.

● Commonly used in molecular biology and biochemistry.

 Graduated Volumetric
Micropipettes
Cont.
● Electronic Pipettes
● Automated pipettes that can be programmed for multiple volumes and dispensing modes.
● Use: Increase efficiency and precision in high-throughput settings.

● Pasteur Pipettes
● Simple glass or plastic pipettes, often not graduated.
● These pipettes have a long, slender design with a bulb at one end, which allows for easy suction and
dispensing of liquids
● Use: Used for transferring small amounts of liquid quickly and easily.

● Serological Pipettes
● Used for larger volumes (typically 1 mL to 50 mL) and often available in sterile options and graduated up to
the tip
● Use: Common in microbiology for cell culture work.
Electronic Pasteur
Serological
Cont.

● Ostwald-Folin Pipette
● A graduated pipette designed for viscous liquids, featuring a wider
bulb and a tapered tip.
● Blow-Out/Non-Blow-Out: Typically blow-out.
● Use: Useful for transferring viscous solutions where precision is
needed.
Ostwald
 Blow-Out Pipettes and Non-Blow-Out Pipettes
● Blow-Out Pipettes
● Blow-out pipettes are designed to deliver a specific volume of
liquid that is fully released from the pipette. After dispensing, the
user must "blow out" any remaining liquid by expelling a small
amount of liquid from the tip.
● These pipettes are often marked with a "blow-out" designation
(e.g., “To Contain” or “TC”) and have a wider tip to facilitate this
process.
● A pipette with a double circle marking typically indicates that it
is a "To Contain" (TC) pipette. This marking suggests that the
pipette is designed to contain a specific volume of liquid.
● Common Use: Used when precise measurement is crucial,
particularly in analytical chemistry and biology, where even small
volumes can significantly affect results.
● Examples: Ostwald-Folin and some volumetric pipettes.
Cont.
● Non-Blow-Out Pipettes
● Non-blow-out pipettes deliver a specified volume of liquid but
retain a small amount of liquid in the tip after dispensing. The
volume retained is typically accounted for in the measurement.
● These pipettes are often marked as "To Deliver" (TD) and are
not intended to have the remaining liquid expelled.
● An etched ring on a pipette generally indicates that it is a "To
Deliver" (TD) pipette. This ring is often located near the top or
at a specific volume mark on the pipette.
● Common Use: Used in applications where the small volume
left in the tip does not significantly impact the overall results,
such as in routine laboratory work.
● Examples: Standard graduated glass pipettes and some
serological pipettes.
Dispenser pipet.
● Obtain liquid from a common reservoir & dispense it repeatedly.
Maybe - Bottleneck
- Motorized
- Handheld
- Attached to
dilutor
Calibration of Automatic Pipetting
devices
● A gravimetric method. ( Most desirable )
● Photometric method.
● Using vol. Flasks.
Gravimetric method for calibration of pipet
● By delivering & weighing a solution of known specific gravity
e.g. water ≤ 1.0 % of expected value is tolerable
Photometric Methods

●Using spectrophotometer 2 methods :

1. Get molar extinction coefficient of a
compound like p-nitrophenol, after an aliquot
of diluent is pipetted , change in conc. will
reflect volume of pipet.
2. Compare absorbance's of dilutions of p-
nitrophenol
or another colored liquid with appropriate
absorbance spectra using class a vol.
Glassware vs. Equivalent dilutions made with
pipetting device.
*
For quick daily check :
● VF are used. For e.g. a bottle top dispenser that routinely delivers
2.5 ml of reagent may be checked by dispensing 4 aliquots of 2.5
ml into 10 ml class A vol. flask. Bottom of measurement should
meet with calibration line on VF.
Tubes

TEST TUBE :-Uniform thickness

-Withstand mechanical & thermal
shocks.
CENTRIFUGE TUBE :- Conical shape .
DIGESTION TUBES :- Used for conversion of
organic matter into
inorganic by heating.
SYRINGES :- Collection of blood.
FUNNELS :-Separation of solid & liquid.
CONDENSORS :- Used for distillation &reflux
operations .
DESICCATORS:- Used to desiccate chemical ,
- Used for preparation of accurate
normal solution& standards.
CLEANING OF GLASSWARes

- Detergents
- Non –Ionic
- Metal free
- Not highly alkaline used
-Ultrasonic cleansers
PLASTIC WARES

● POLYTHYLENE
● POLYPROPYLENE
Maintenance and care of volumetric
glassware
Test for cleanliness
● To fill the vessel with distilled water and then empty it and
examine the walls to see whether they are covered by a
continuous thin film of water. Imperfect wetting or presence
of discrete droplets means vessel is not clean enough. Don't
use this for non wettable plastics.
 PIPET HOLDER

Test for residual acids or

alkaline detergents.
Measure ph of water added
to glassware before and after
rinsing. Then compare it.
OR
Dilute solution of an acid base indicator
applied to a surface is another method.
Detergent contaminated water is more
alkaline.
● At least one piece of
randomly selected
glassware should be
checked per day.
● automatic dishwashers
and dryers are also
available for cleaning.
● Visual inspection :
spotless vessel walls.
● Successful cleaning
solution are acid
dichromate and
HNO3
● Dirty pipettes are
placed in container
of soapy water with
pipet's tips up and covered with solution.
● Use fresh reagent grade water for
each final water rinse Ultrasonic pipet cleaner
● Cleaning brushes are also available
● In our lab , for calibration of volumetric devices, a combination of
water + H2SO4+ POTASSIUM DICROMATE is used .