Glassware is one of the most common objects used in laboratories. From flasks to funnels and other equipment, glassware is used widely in labs. Rule of thumb: Never use the glassware equipment of the laboratories for any other use. It should be restricted only for scientific and lab purposes. This glassware is mainly used for heating elements, mixing them, condensation, cooling, and many other purposes. But when it comes to heating, one must pay extra attention to it. It’s well known that Glass is a bad conductor of heat and if exposed to uneven heating, it can result in damage. While heating the flasks, make sure you handle the process with utmost care and precautions.
Let’s have a look at different types of flasks that can be heated:
1) Florence: Also known as Boiling Flask is lab equipment that is ideal for operations that involve heating. It is large in size with a rim opening and its bottom is designed in such a way that the solution within it can be heated without any hassle. To prevent cracking and other damages caused by heating these flasks are made using borosilicate glass that helps them resist the heat.
2) Erlenmeyer Flask: Erlenmeyer Flask is commonly known as conical flasks too. The reason behind its name is that it has a conical base that almost extends into a small, cylindrical neck. This shape helps the flask to cope up with the heating process with the help of a sealed bung. The main uses of this type of flask are to mix, heat, and boil different solutions.
3) Sidearm flask: The sidearm flask also goes by the name Buchner. It consists of a conical-shaped bottom along with small tube extrudes. The speciality of this tool is that it is made with a thick layer of glass that prevents the surface from extremely high temperature and the risk of damage. It uses a funnel over its glass neck and a tube to suck out pressure to create a vacuum for slicing liquids.
4) Retort flask: The main purpose of this flask is distillation since it is designed with the middle bent at a 90-degree angle that makes it ideal for the task. The solution is stored in a bulb portion that helps in heating it to the point of condensation. Once the process is done the liquid is then collected in a piece of different Science equipment or container.
5) Schlenk Flask: This type of flask has the shape of pear along with a stretched vertical neck. This neck also has a sidearm which is a crucial part of the equipment. It makes sure that excessive pressure or gas created during the heating process is released and the object is safe and sustains the entire procedure.
Know more about such equipment? Let us know in the comments.
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