Science Equipment Glossary

 

Health Science Glossary

In science, we learn a lot about the human body as well as how the things around us work. To do this, we need to use a lot of equipment. This glossary is intended to teach you more about these tools that we use every day in science.

beaker

noun

A lipped cylindrical glass container for laboratory use.

Example: From this degassed sample a solution was prepared in triplicate by pouring the solution into a BEAKER and taking 2mL of the degassed drink by micro syringe, placing this into a 50mL volumetric flask and diluting to volume with distilled water (dilution factor of 1:25). The samples for analysis were then prepared by taking 1000L of 25mg% propan-1-ol internal standard solution and 400L of the diluted drink (also from a BEAKER) by micro syringe.

fr: bécher

erlenmeyer flask

noun

A conical flat-bottomed laboratory flask with a narrow neck.

Example: When the precipitate in the flask was granular and the liquid turned pale yellow, this flask was covered by a erlenmeyer flask and it was kept for cooling.

fr: fiole erlenmeyer

graduated cylinder

noun

A graduated cylinder is a common laboratory tool, a tall, narrow container with marked lines (graduations) used for accurately measuring the volume of liquids,.

Example: During this period every 5 minutes the flask was removed and swirled gently, after which it was placed back inside the bath. 20g of crushed ice was placed inside a tall graduated cylinder, which the reaction mixture was poured over, when the ice had melted the mixture was neutralised using solid Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate until CO 2 evolution had stopped indicating the neutralisation was complete.

fr: cylindre gradué

test tubes

noun

A thin glass tube closed at one end, used to hold small amounts of material for laboratory testing or experiments.

Example: The column was topped up with about 100 cm 3 solvent mixture and was run so that 6 sequential fractions were collected in TEST TUBES.

fr: tubes à essai

test tube rack

noun

A test tube rack is a specialized laboratory apparatus designed to hold, organize, and secure multiple test tubes in a stable, vertical position.

Example: When the substances were combined by melting them in a test tube a small element of the glass may have also melted and combined with the substances. Put the test tube in a TEST TUBE RACK.

fr: support pour tubes à essai

Bunsen burner

noun

A small adjustable gas burner used in laboratories.

Example: . First the platinum ring on the balance was washed, then flamed in a BUNSEN BURNER.

fr: bec Bunsen

Hot plate

noun

A flat heated surface (or a set of these), typically portable, used for cooking food or keeping it hot.

Example: The filtrate of nickelthiocyanate, from the previous part of this experiment was heated on a HOT PLATE, and slowly added to the triphenylphosphine through the tom of the condenser.

fr: plaque chauffante

electronic balance

noun

An electronic balance is a high-precision, digital measuring instrument used to determine the mass or weight of objects with high accuracy, typically featuring a digital display and a weighing pan.

Example: The XPR Automatic ELECTRONIC BALANCE is designed to enhance precision and efficiency in dispensing powders and liquids by automating the weighing process. This automation helps eliminate user errors and saves time during preparation of solutions and dilutions.

fr: balance électronique

thermometer

noun

An instrument for measuring and indicating temperature, typically one consisting of a narrow, hermetically sealed glass tube marked with graduations and having at one end a bulb containing mercury or alcohol that expands and contracts in the tube with heating and cooling.

Example: In addition, he is credited for a wide range of important discoveries, inventions and hypotheses, including his work on pendulums and theories of motion; mechanics; invention of the first THERMOMETER, and his numerous contributions to amassing knowledge in astronomy.

fr: thermomètre

pH meter

noun

A pH meter is an instrument used to measure hydrogen ion activity in solutions - in other words, this instrument measures acidity/alkalinity of a solution.

Example: If the vinegar were more strongly coloured the end point may be determined by using a PH METER?

fr: pH-mètre

volumetric flask

noun

A volumetric flask is a pear-shaped piece of lab glassware with a long, narrow neck, used for preparing solutions to a very specific and precise volume, often for analytical chemistry.

Example: The results obtained are shown in the table below (Table 1): 10.2 - Analysis of Milk 10 ml of milk was transferred into a 100ml VOLUMETRIC FLASK. 25 ml of water added and it was mixed gently.40 ml of tungstic acid reagent were added and gently mixed.

fr: fiole jaugée

pipette

noun

A slender tube attached to or incorporating a bulb, for transferring or measuring out small quantities of liquid, especially in a laboratory.

Example: Following this into polythene beakers labelled F-J was added 25mL of each metal fluoride solution (BaF 2 , MgF 2 , PbF 2 , SrF 2 , CaF 2 ), care was taken not to shake the saturated fluoride solution and the solution was PIPETTE-ed from the top to avoid uptake of un-dissolved solid.

fr: pipette

burette

noun

A graduated glass tube with a tap at one end, for delivering known volumes of a liquid, especially in titrations.

Example: Accurate equipment is used e.g. 250cm 3 Graduated flask and 50cm 3 -BURETTE (calibrated to ±0.05cm 3 ) and pipette.

fr: burette

funnel

noun

A tube or pipe that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for guiding liquid or powder into a small opening.

Example: The water level was kept at a constant level by allowing water to add from the dropping FUNNEL.

fr: entonnoir

microscope

noun

An optical instrument used for viewing very small objects, such as mineral samples or animal or plant cells, typically magnified several hundred times.

Example: For the purpose of clarity without venturing off-topic into the debate concerning equitable compensation, we call on the aid of 'a powerful legal MICROSCOPE' and employ alternate nomenclature that has been provided elsewhere.

fr: microscope

petri dish

noun

A shallow, circular, transparent dish with a flat lid, used for the culture of microorganisms.

Example: This relationship has been investigated in laboratories, primarily using mice and by testing with 3 independent assays (carried out by Gearhart and Donovan): in vitro differentiation in a PETRI DISH, differentiation into teratomas when placed in histocompatible mice and finally, in vivo differentiation when introduced in the blastocoel cavity of a pre-implantation embryo (Donovan and Gearhart, 2001).

fr: boîte de Petri

stopwatch

noun

A special watch with buttons that start, stop, and then zero the hands, used to time races.

Example: A STOPWATCH was also used for timing the one minute study phase and the five minute test phase.

fr: chronomètre

power supply

noun

A power supply is an electrical device that converts power from a source (like a wall outlet) into the correct voltage, current, and frequency needed to operate a specific load,

Example: First, the whole system needs a DC POWER SUPPLY for every component. Different device requires different voltage POWER SUPPLY.

fr: alimentation électrique

multimeter

noun

A multimeter is a versatile electronic measuring instrument used to test and measure multiple electrical properties, primarily voltage, current, and resistance

Example: The random error in the reading of the stopping voltage was estimated through the accuracy of the MULTIMETER.

fr: multimètre

spectrophotometer

noun

A spectrophotometer is an analytical instrument used to measure the intensity of light, or the amount of photons, that a sample absorbs or transmits as a function of wavelength.

Example: Light absorbance, measured by a SPECTROPHOTOMETER, is an indicator of ascorbate concentration.

fr: spectrophotomètre

This glossary was made with the Virtual Writing Tutor glossary maker and grammar checker.