Questions tagged [equipment]
Questions regarding the equipment used in labs (such as flasks, tubes etc.), their operation and maintenance.
205
questions
2
votes
1answer
48 views
Can I engrave borosilicate glassware without compromising its structural integrity?
Can I use a pen engraver (the kind that's like a tattoo gun with a diamond tip) to engrave my initials on labware without compromising it? I am in a lab space with a shared acid wash, and my glassware ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
Is it better to use a smaller, more accurate measuring cylinder several times or a larger, less accurate one for the same volume?
I need to measure out 70 ml of liquid.
I have a 10 ml measuring cylinder with a maximum uncertainty of 0.1 ml and a 100 ml measuring cylinder with a maximum uncertainty of 1 ml.
I've calculated that ...
7
votes
2answers
907 views
How to identify a blow-out pipette?
Is my pipette a blow-out pipette?
I suspect that it is a blow-out pipette, though the double lines aren't rings. My guess is it is a TC blow-out pipette. It's a big 50 mL pipette, longer than my arm.
...
7
votes
1answer
221 views
What is the purpose of this glassware?
I have seen these small test tube looking doohickeys being supplied from many chinese suppliers, but never with any description as to what they are for. They almost invariably have the description &...
2
votes
0answers
35 views
Does mercury react with polycarbonate?
Looking around at various material compatibility charts, they seem quite divided on the compatibility of metallic mercury and polycarbonate. Some sources (here, here, or here) indicate that ...
0
votes
0answers
54 views
What is the product of ammonia reacting with silicone?
I used a soft silicone hose to carry ammonia at ~70 °C. I was surprised to later find the hose had hardened.
A quick materials compatibility search for silicone had given me a lot of info but an "...
0
votes
0answers
23 views
HDPE vs PP for storing pure aldehydes
I know both HDPE and PP have at least some degree of resistance to aldehydes, esters and aliphatic hydrocarbons.
I am concerned however about minute contamination over time of pure samples and so I ...
-1
votes
1answer
29 views
Any plastic for long term storage of Puriss. Ethanol?
I'm being offered to share some puriss Ethanol. Can I store it long term in any plastic container without the slightest contamination/reaction from the plastic? I have HDPE, PET, but I could buy ...
4
votes
1answer
257 views
Safest way to conduct a reaction with bromine under reflux conditions
I am conducting an electrophilic aromatic bromination reaction according to literature. The substrate and intended substitution pattern do not matter, but the reported procedure requires the dropwise ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Reduction by Activated Carbon
Does reduction by carbon itself occur when filtration is performed using activated carbon? Is it part of the central mechanisms involved in activated carbon filtration?
One of the specificities of all ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Experience with PTFE tubing & glass connectors?
I'm wondering which PTFE tubing size to get to connect to normal 10mm OD glass connectors. For a silicon hose I would take an ID of 8-9mm as it is flexible but I think PTFE is quite rigid.
Anyone has ...
1
vote
0answers
105 views
What has happened with the pH-meter?
The glass sensor has became red inside like something melted. I stored it in a liquid with pH that mentioned in the manual. What is that and why could that happen, how often that happens with pH-...
9
votes
2answers
591 views
Sintered vs perforated plate Büchner funnels
I just bought a sintered-glass style Büchner funnel for some vacuum filtration tasks. There's two issues I'm having with it:
Filter material, especially activated charcoal, ends up stuck in the glass ...
1
vote
1answer
193 views
when using glass to glass stoppers, is it best to have them dry or use lubricant?
I have some glass flasks that have glass stoppers. It’s basically the typical glass stopper with the frosted tip which fits into a glass opening. Basically think of a typical glass volumetric flask. i ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
Affordable, non-contaminating flexible tubing for common acids
Which tubing material is affordable, flexible, widely available, and suited for transporting very pure acids ("puriss." products) in their most concentrated form without contaminating them?
...
6
votes
1answer
86 views
What kind of filter can remove zeolite dust from ethanol?
I only really have high school level knowledge of chemistry, and also I don't really own any lab equipment.
I'm using 3A zeolite molecular sieves to dry ethanol (and sometimes isopropanol) and they ...
1
vote
0answers
31 views
Is the width of a Soxhlet Condenser Inherent to its Function?
Soxhlet extractors are often coupled to a specifically designed condenser with a very large lower joint.
Is this inherent to it's function as a condenser in the apparatus or only because the Soxhlet ...
0
votes
2answers
59 views
Confused Reading of Pressure on Vacuum Gauge [closed]
I have a gauge used to measure vacuum but I'm a bit confused as the measurements state "Hg" (I would have supposed inches of mercury except it goes to -30) and "Bar" going to minus ...
0
votes
0answers
24 views
Re-Fusing (Unsplit) Cracked Glassware
If I heat up cracked glassware (wherein a crack has gone through part of the glass without any glass splitting away) will it cleanly refuse together before the whole piece loses its shape?
If so, ...
0
votes
1answer
158 views
What the difference in data if calibrate pH-meter with 2 and 3 solutions? [closed]
pH-meter (12 bucks one) can be calibrated with 2 different solutions (let's say 4.0 and 6.86), but as an option 3 can be used (4.0, 6.86 and 9.18). If I use 2 instead of 3, what error I'm going to get....
1
vote
0answers
53 views
Which Additives May be Present in Cellulose Filter Paper? [closed]
I'm wondering what, other than cellulose, might be contained in filter paper (the kind routinely used in Buchner filters / normal funnels).
A search here on Chemistry Stackexchange shows that at least ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Compact way to regulate 3000psi (200bar) down to 30psi (2bar)?
This was originally posted on the Lego page, and closed because it's not actually about Lego itself. I thought I'd give them a chance first, in case someone had done this already and had some ...
0
votes
0answers
53 views
Looking for advice regarding a larger scale soxhlet extraction
I have successfully completed a few soxhlet extractions at a much smaller scale using a soxhlet extractor with ~200ml capacity. With that, I was able to extract from ~100g of pre-powdered, sonicated ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Can a food dehydrator be used as an alternative to a scientific drying oven?
I have some everyday drying needs, like drying dessicants such as calcium chloride and silica gel.
Can I use a food dehydrator for this task as an alternative to a scientific drying oven? There is a ...
0
votes
1answer
182 views
can i use an isobutane stove (like jetboil) or butane blowtorch with borosilicate glass?
I don't have a bunsen burner, but have a camping stove (similar to https://www.amazon.com/Stansport-183-B-Isobutane-Backpack-Stove/dp/B004EPWM5S) and a blow torch. I'd like to do some distillation ...
-4
votes
2answers
67 views
cheap anti-fog agent!
What are some safe and widely available alternatives to specifically formulated anti-fog sprays/treatments? Specifically for use on glasses, goggles, and face shields.
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Can a spectrometer be used to figure out spice ratios in a sauce?
There is a really good sauce that a local restaurant makes. I have had trouble recreating it, but have gotten somewhat close. I had the following idea:
I could take an "image" of the sauce's color ...
1
vote
0answers
36 views
Mercury bulb on spirit thermometer?
I recently broke a Quickfit distillation thermometer and the bulb had liquid metal in it. I assumed it's mercury and acted accordingly. However, the column looks like spirit filled (blue liquid). Has ...
1
vote
0answers
32 views
Reason for rounded fitting at the top end of Allihn Condenser
I am purchasing an essential oil distillation setup. The Allihn Condenser at the top end, and the attached glassware, are rounded. It is supposedly 24/40. I have never seen this. If one of them broke, ...
-1
votes
1answer
63 views
Type of equipment to measure exact amounts of liquid
I have to sample $\pu{10mL}$ of liquid hundreds of times a day at work.
We use a $\pu{10mL}$ syringe to do so, but it takes a lot of time as they often allow more than $\pu{10mL}$ to be drawn in (i.e....
10
votes
1answer
3k views
What is the scientific term to describe the operation of a bong?
What is the scientific term for the separation of dust particles from air by suction through a specialized flask in a way similar to the operation of a bong?
The thing that led me to this was a ...
1
vote
4answers
111 views
Will ground glass joints relieve pressure non-catastrophically?
I need to heat a fluid for seven days at a time. The fluid goes in round bottom flask that is suspended in a water bath. The test fluid will decompose and generate a small amount of gas over time.
...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
BOD5 respirometric method
I operate in a wastewater treatment plant laboratory and I use respirometric method for BOD5 measurement (hach direct plus). Recently I am obtaining high value for BOD (biological oxygen demand) for ...
1
vote
0answers
39 views
Permanent storage container with electrode for electroplating
I'm not a chemist at all but I am looking for a specific type of container which I'm sure must exist but I don't know it's name.
We want to store non-toxic (non-cyanide) gold solution for ...
8
votes
1answer
873 views
Gold Plating on Glass?
I am considering labware options to handle NaOH solutions at ~150 °C. One appealing idea would be to coat my current glassware with gold. I've read different sources mentioning the possibility without ...
2
votes
0answers
60 views
NaOH vs Polypropylene
This source lists polypropylene as suitable for use with NaOH.
However, this paper seems to demonstrate that NaOH slowly degrades polypropylene (even at fairly moderate temperatures).
Does anyone ...
3
votes
1answer
152 views
Labware to handle hot aqueous NaOH
This question regarding appropriate handling of hot concentrated aqueous $\ce{NaOH}$ - with particular concern for avoiding dissolution of borosilicate glassware and contamination of the $\ce{NaOH}$ ...
0
votes
0answers
172 views
Highly concentrated NaOH solution at high temperature vs borosilicate glassware and cellulose?
I've read here on stack-exchange that NaOH will react with glass through the following reaction:
4 NaOH + SiO2 ⤑ Na4SiO4 + 2 H2O
I would like to briefly heat a highly concentrated NaOH solution to ...
1
vote
1answer
124 views
Order of internal pressure resistance to expect from laboratory glassware?
I have a need to use more pressure differential than can be afforded by vacuum vs atmospheric pressure alone, and so I've come to consider using pressurised laboratory glassware for part of my setup.
...
0
votes
1answer
425 views
What kind of metal drums are used to store Hydrochloric Acid?
I would expect Hydrochloric Acid to be stored exclusively in glass or plastic containers, but I was surprised to find Honeywell offers it for sale in 30Kg metal drums (Link).
I think Hydrochloric ...
7
votes
0answers
39 views
Identifying Name/Purpose of piece of ellipsoid glassware with internal tube?
I recently went to a market in Southern France and found this little piece of equipment for sale along with a whole bunch of other chemistry things. the guy had no idea what it was for or where he'd ...
1
vote
2answers
589 views
Glass joint stuck in flask
I am doing distillation using system of glassware including a flask and a glass joint. Recently I've faced a problem: the glass joint stuck in the flask. I tried to remove it but it broke and hurted ...
17
votes
5answers
4k views
Why isn't pressure filtration popular compared to vacuum filtration?
I want to build a DIY vacuum filtration apparatus with a bike pump but it's very difficult to find one the could be easily converted into a vacuum pump. This prompted an idea to simply build a reverse ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
Can I safely use a separatory funnel to extract the precipitate from a solution?
Can a separatory funnel be used to collect a precipitate, or would that risk clogging the stopcock on it?
I'd like to recoup the precipitate for filtering without passing the entire solution through ...
0
votes
1answer
98 views
What are the components of a labware setup for short-path distillation?
I've recently become interested in short-path distillation and have found that most kits are in the thousands of dollars. So I thought that I would compile the labware myself.
I understand the theory ...
1
vote
0answers
56 views
Can we use potassium iodide as pH meter electrode storage solution.? If not then why?
If KCl is not available can KI be used to store pH probe meters? Both are potassium salts.
9
votes
2answers
695 views
400–430 degrees Celsius heated bath
I want to perform a reaction which needs the temperature to be maintained between 400–430 °C. Since it's the only practical solution, I opted for a heated bath.
I'm looking for a hydrocarbon fraction/...
5
votes
0answers
72 views
An unknown glassware piece from our cupboard
We have multiple of these. It is a small glass funnel with splits into 3 spouts from it. Now, we are thinking it might be similar to a cow receiver, however, I have never seen one this small or ...
4
votes
0answers
36 views
Unknown possibly handmade glassware- description in information below
Okay, Another random item from the cupboard (unknown users or discipline of life sciences unknown) could be anything up to 40 years old....
This appears to be a 2 neck quickfit adapter (B19 and B14) ...
0
votes
0answers
57 views
Unknown glassware please help, vshaped with a small bulb on one side, hollow but narrow to both sides!
Looking to try an identify some glassware we have found in a cupboard. This is just the start of it...
1 item here, v-shaped, small bulb but hollow, narrow entrance and exit...
