24 September 2010- Laboratories depending on the subjects and experiments to be performed have different working environments. But there are certain basic laboratory apparatus and equipments required to perform different lab experiments, whether complicated or simple. No matter what the subject is, be it physics or chemistry or medical, there are certain common lab apparatus, lab instruments and tools which are required and which we are discussing below:
Lab Apparatus
There are certain basic laboratory apparatus that are invariable required to conduct biology, chemistry, physics or medical lab experiments. These
common laboratory apparatus facilitate the conduct of all types of experiments in a laboratory in an efficient way. The basic equipments are the test tubes, test tube holders, test tube racks, reagent bottles, beakers,
Bunsen burners, measuring cylinders, evaporating dishes, stand and clamps, crucibles, safety glasses, mortar and pestle, droppers, tripods, spatulas, microscopes, and balances. In different laboratory testing requirements, the laboratories are equipped with filters, mixers, air handling equipment, heating equipments, shakers, centrifuges, fume hoods, homogenizers, measuring devices, refrigerators and ovens.
Laboratory Furnace
It is very necessary that the materials and samples that require heat testing should be tested on a maintained high temperature. As such, the laboratory heating apparatus should also be able to bear different high heat temperatures. That is why there are specially designed laboratory equipments which do not break down even after continuous heating. It is to be noted in a laboratory, heating experiments can go on for several months. As a general rule, the lab furnace should have proper atmosphere controls and the accurate dimensions for the laboratory's use for observing combustion, conduction, induction, electrical, resistance, propane oil and natural gas and other fuels. There is the option of single heating or dual heating mode in a lab furnace to adjust temperature and temperature stability. With advanced technologies, you also find lab furnace with computer interface and application software.
Laboratory Filters
These type of laboratory apparatus are very essential in a lab to reduce or eliminate fine particles from samples. The filters usually have two types of filters attached to them – one, membrane filters and two, centrifugal filters. Membrane filters are widely used in large scale experiments to filter suspended matter from liquids and gases. Small sized laboratories use centrifugal filters to separate proteins or nucleic acids.
Laboratory filtration equipments are needed for the proper analysis of physical and performance specifications of varied samples and solutions. Larger filters are preferred in chemical and industrial laboratories.
Laboratory Mixers
Laboratory mixers are required in mixing, emulsifying, homogenizing, and dissolving samples. The lab mixers operate at different speeds and are seen in industrial and pharmaceutical laboratories. For details, check out
Laboratory Mixers.
Air Handling Equipment
This is essential to protect the laboratory from being contaminated from dust, pollution and other air-borne contamination. The air handling equipment comprises various other products like fume hoods, biological safety cabinets, clean benches etc. The lab room should be environmentally controlled.
All major laboratory apparatus need to follow standard specifications.
