Laboratory Glassware

Module 10

Kh. Farjana Urmi

Sr. QC Officer
ACI HealthCare Limited

Laboratory glassware
Laboratory glassware refers to a variety of equipment,
traditionally made of glass, used for scientific experiments
and other work in science, especially in chemistry and
biology laboratories.

Application:
Glass is relatively inert, transparent, heat-resistant, and
easy to customize. There are several types of glass, each
used for different purposes. Borosilicate glass, which is
commonly used in reagent bottles, can withstand thermal
stress. Quartz glass can withstand high temperatures and is
transparent in certain parts of the electromagnetic
spectrum. Darkened brown or amber (actinic) glass, which is
common in dark storage bottles, can block ultraviolet and
infrared radiation. Heavy-wall glass, which is common in
glass pressure reactors, can withstand pressurized
applications.

Examples
There are many different kinds of laboratory glassware
items. These include:
Beakers are simple cylindrical shaped containers used to
hold reagents or samples.
Flasks are narrow-necked glass containers, typically
conical or spherical, used in a laboratory to hold reagents
or samples.
Bottles are containers with narrow openings generally
used to store reagents or samples. Small bottles are called
vials.
Jars are cylindrical containers with wide openings that
may be sealed. Bell jars are used to contain vacuums.
Watch glasses are shallow glass dishes used as an
evaporating surface or to cover a beaker.
Graduated cylinders are cylindrical containers used for
volumetric measurements.
Stirring rods are used to mix chemicals.
Burettes are used to disperse precise amounts of liquid
reagents.
Condensers are used to cool hot liquids or vapors.

Examples
Funnels are used to get materials through a narrow
opening.
Desiccators of glass construction are used to dry
materials or keep material dry.
Glass tubes are cylindrical pieces of glassware used
to hold or transport materials.
Glass retorts are used for distillation.
Glass pipettes are used to transport precise
quantities of fluids.
Test tubes are used by chemists to hold, mix, or heat
small quantities of solid or liquid chemicals, especially
for qualitative experiments and assays
Glass Petri dishes are used to culture living cells.
Drying pistols are used to free samples from traces
of water, or other impurities.
Glass evaporating dishes are used to evaporate
materials.
Microscope slides are thin strips used to hold items
under a microscope.

Glassware
Glassware can be divided into 2
groups
Non-volumetric glassware
Beaker
Flask
Volumetric Glassware
Volumetric Flask
Graduated Cylinder
Pipette
Burette

Glassware (Cont..)
Beaker
Used for transferring liquid to another container or to
transfer a small amount of reagent for use in
procedures.
Volume is not accurate, just an estimate.
NEVER PLACE A REAGENT IN ANOTHER CONTAINER
WITHOUT LABELING THE CONTAINER FIRST.
Erlenmeyer Flask
Features a conical base, a cylindrical neck and a flat
bottom.
They are marked on the side (graduated) to indicate
the approximate volume of their contents.
This is NOT used for ACCURATE measurement

Volumetric Glassware
Required for High Accuracy and Precision
Required When Preparing or Using Standard
Solutions
Graduated Cylinder
For rapid measurement of liquid volume.
They are generally more accurate and precise for
this purpose than flasks.
This is a semi-accurate liquid measuring vessels.

Volumetric Glassware

What are the volume of water in

the graduated cylinder?

Always measure the volume of a

liquid at
the bottom of the meniscus of the
liquid.
10 mL has approx 6.62 mL
100 mL has approx 52.8 ml.
Here 6 & 52 ml are exactly known
and the 0.62 & 0.8 ml is uncertain
because is was interpolated or
estimated.

Volumetric Glassware
(Cont..)
Wide Tip
Use When Solids in
Sample

Used for Routine Volume Measurements

of 25 mL or Less
Graduated Pipette

Volumetric Glassware
(Cont..)
Wide Tip
Use When Solids in
Sample

NOT VOLUMETRIC

Graduated Pipette

Volumetric Glassware (Cont..)

Pipettes

Laboratory instrument used to transport a

measured volume of liquid.
Three types of glass pipettes used in the laboratory
Volumetric
Mohr
Serological

Serological and Mohr pipettes have different

markings to assist in identifying them as they are
used differently.
Serological pipettes are TD = to deliver. To
accurately dispense the measured volume the
last bit must be blown out.
Mohr pipettes are TC = to contain.
These
pipettes are designed to dispense the correctly
measured volume, so there will be a minute
amount of liquid left in the tip.

Volumetric Glassware (Cont..)

Volumetric Pipettes
Designed to transfer a fixed amount of liquid when
filled to the mark, e.g. 10 mL and only 10 mL.
There is generally only one "fill-line" on a volumetric
pipette.
For example a 5 mL volumetric pipette has one
marking on it. This marking measures exactly 5 mL. of
liquid, no more, no less.

Proper Use of Pipette

When reading the volume,
ALWAYS view the pipette
dead-on at eye level with
the pipette held vertically,
perpendicular to the ground.
Pipettes are designed to be
used with a hand pump or
bulb, of which there are
many varieties.
Never use your mouth
with a pipette!

Proper Reading

X
O

Fill
By
Vacuum
Pipet
Bulb

Rinse

Volumetric Glassware (Cont..)

Volumetric Flask
A volumetric flask is used to measure very
precisely one specific volume of liquid (100 ml,
250 ml, etc., depending on which flask you use).
This flask is used to prepare a solution of known
concentration.
To make up a solution, first dissolve the solid
material completely, in less fluid than required to
fill the flask to the mark.
After the solid is completely dissolved, very
carefully fill the flask to the mL mark.
The top is then sealed and the flask is inverted
several times to mix.

Types of Volumetric Glassware

Serialized/Certified flasks are calibrated to Class A
specifications. Each flask is individually serialized and
furnished with a Certificate of Identification and
Capacity, traceable to NIST standards ,guaranteeing
its calibration.
VERIFIED Class A flasks are manufacture during a
process that validates the measurement of each
individual flasks capacity per ASTME -542 during
production, guaranteeing conformance to Class A
specifications called out in ASTME- 288. Each flask is
labeled with VERIFIED and has a lot number
enabling you to access a Certificate of Analysis with
lot specific data regarding both measurements and
methods.

Types of Volumetric Glassware

(Cont..)

Class A flasks are manufactured to tolerances

established byASTME-694 for volumetric ware,
ASTME-542 for calibration of volumetric ware and
ASTME-288 for volumetric flasks. Utilizes the same
tolerances as Certified and Verified flasks, but are
not individually certified or verified. Lot specific
certificates of compliance are available but contain
no lot specific data.
Class B flasks are generally calibrated to twice
the tolerance of Class A flasks.

Volumetric Glassware Calibration

SOP on Calibration of Glassware

<1051> CLEANING GLASS

APPARATUS
Success in conducting many Pharmacopeial assays and tests

depends upon the cleanliness of the glassware apparatus

used. Usage of commercial detergents or inorganic reagents
for cleaning should be used when necessary.
In all cases, it is important to verify that the cleaning
procedure is appropriate for the particular test or assay being
undertaken. This can be accomplished in a number of ways,
including use of experimental controls or verification of
cleaning by utilization of residue/residual testing to ensure
removal of any potential contaminants. A statement should be
included in the cleaning protocol describing how the success
of the cleaning procedure will be assessed.
For optical measurements, special care is required for
cleaning containers, but the use of chromic acid or highly
alkaline solutions should be avoided.
Some particular tests, though not inclusive, wherein the use
of clean glassware is critical for success include the following:
pyrogen and total organic carbon tests as well as assays of
heparin sodium and vitamin B12 activity.

Glassware Cleaners
When washing glassware, soap, detergent, or cleaning
powder (with or without an abrasive) may be used.
Cleaners for glass-ware include Alconox, Liquinox,
Lux, Tide and Fab. The water should be hot. For
glassware that is exceptionally dirty, a cleaning
powder with a very mild abrasive action, such as
BonAmi, will give more satisfactory results. The
abrasive should not scratch the glass.

Glassware Cleaners (Cont..)

Beads
of
Liquid

Not
Clean

Safety Handling of Glassware

Do not put hot glassware on cold or wet surfaces, or
cold glassware on hot surfaces. It may break with the
temperature change.
Do not heat glassware that is etched, cracked,
chipped, nicked, or scratched. It is more prone to
break.
Do not heat glassware directly on electrical heating
elements. Excessive stress will be induced in the
glass, and this can result in breakage.
Do not look down into any vessel being heated. A
reaction might cause the contents to be ejected.

Thank You