Autoclave and Analytical Balance Overview

Autoclave

• A high-pressure chamber designed to eliminate harmful organisms and pathogens using steam.
• Functions similarly to a pressure cooker, operating at 212°F (100°C) in open containers.
• Slow exhaust is used for liquids and medical waste; fast exhaust is utilized for empty glassware and instruments.
• Also known as a steam sterilizer; Charles Chamberland contributed to its development.

Analytical Balance

• Precision instrument for measuring mass in the sub-milligram range.
• Essential for tasks like sampling amounts, formulation density, purity analysis, and quality control.
• Capable of weighing up to 310 grams; attributed to Joseph Black.

Burette

• A graduated glass tube with a stopcock, used to measure the volume of liquids or gases accurately.
• Ideal for titrations in analytical chemistry; developed by Francois Descroizilles.

Centrifuge

• Equipment used to isolate solids from liquids by rapidly spinning closed containers.
• Typically utilizes small tubes to hold solutions; balance is crucial for operation.
• If only one tube is used for balance, fill the opposite side with water to stabilize.

Micropipette

• A precision tool for measuring and transferring very small liquid volumes from solutions.
• Commonly used in DNA laboratories to handle micro-liter quantities efficiently.

Incubator

• A sealed chamber designed to maintain and control temperature for the growth of microbial cultures.
• Utilized to provide optimal conditions for organism proliferation.

Water Bath

• Equipment that uses water to maintain a consistent temperature for laboratory materials.
• Ideal for fragile biological substances, such as semen, and for warming samples.
• Also used to heat flammable chemicals to prepare them for ignition.

Hot Plate

• An instrument that provides direct heat to glassware containing laboratory solutions.
• Older coil models can be hazardous, whereas newer models typically feature safer ceramic tops.