Are you one of those lab people who works in the Laboratory? So, like any other laboratory equipment, you are certainly using glassware for your various experiments. However, in today's world, chemists and researchers have increased the use of plastic equipment. But glass equipment such as Babcock bottles, measuring flasks, etc., is still the first choice for many researchers. Undoubtedly, your preference for choosing glass or plastic depends on various elements such as cost, instrument design, etc. But glass is still the choice of many due to multiple factors. The Basic Properties of GlassWith its excellent chemical resistance to various chemicals, including organic solvents, acids, alkalis, saline solutions, and water, glass outperforms plastic in many situations. Glass can only be destroyed by concentrated phosphoric acid, strong alkalis heated at high temperatures, and hydrofluoric acid. Pyrex is a heat-resistant glass appropriate for reagent and chemical storage. Glass such as Babcock bottles, etc., have additional benefits for use in laboratories, such as its transparency and dimensional stability even at very high temperatures. Other benefits include the availability of a wide range of laboratory equipment sizes and the simplicity of cleaning glass. Multiple glass equipment types are available with different properties, making them useful for different applications. These are:
What is Laboratory Glassware?Laboratory glassware is a broad category of scientific equipment that was usually constructed of glass before the development of some plastic substitutes. Glass is used in chemistry, biology, and analytical laboratories. Glass may be molded, cut, bent, and blown into various forms and sizes. Many laboratories instruct new employees on how to properly utilize glassware in the lab and the potential risks associated with glass while working because of the possibility of breakage. Tips For Using Glass in LaboratoriesIt's crucial to keep in mind the restrictions of glass while working and having mechanical stress and thermal shock in the lab. Make sure you always practice strict safety precautions. Due to the exothermic reaction, like when diluting sulfuric acid, stir, let the reaction cool, and conduct it in an appropriate vessel. For exothermic reactions, stay away from volumetric flasks and graduated cylinders. You may risk breaking volumetric instruments if you heat them on hot plates. Never subject glass equipment to rapid variations in pressure or temperature. For instance, never evacuate containers with flat bottoms and never quickly allow air to enter into evacuated glass apparatus. They are not intended for use with a vacuum. Only exert effort steadily and under control on empty glass instruments. Use safety equipment like screens, gloves, and goggles. How Glass Resists Chemicals?On the surface, glass barely reacts with acids and water. Only minute amounts of the glass are dissolved, and as a result, a coating of silica gel forms on the surface to thwart additional attacks. But such a layer does not form when heated phosphoric acid and hydrofluoric acid are combined. At high temperatures and concentrations, alkalis affect the glass surface, occasionally causing a change in volume or the destruction of graduations on volumetric instruments. How to Keep Glassware Crystal Clean?Last but not least, wash the device in cold water to eliminate any protein residues. After that, soak the glassware in a disinfectant solution that has been diluted appropriately. Remove any material stuck to the glass surface using a bristle brush. Then soak one more time or have an ultrasonic bath. To remove any hidden detergent, rinse the item in deionized water thrice. Dry in a spotless area or a hot air oven after draining on a rack.
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