100 Science Lab Equipment List and Their Uses
A. Glassware & Volume Measurement (General Containers)
Beaker
A wide cylindrical container, often with a spout.

Used for mixing, heating, and rough volume measurements.

Erlenmeyer Flask (Conical Flask)
Conical shape with narrow neck.

Useful for mixing by swirling (minimizes spillage), titrations, and storing solutions.

Volumetric Flask
A flask calibrated for a precise volume at a given temperature.

Used to prepare standard solutions and accurate dilutions.

Graduated Cylinder (Measuring Cylinder)
Tall, narrow cylinder with markings.

For accurately measuring liquid volumes.

Burette
A long, graduated glass tube with a stopcock at the bottom.

Used in titrations to deliver precise volumes of liquid reagent.

Pipette (Volumetric / Graduated)
A slender tube, calibrated to deliver or hold a fixed volume.

Used for transferring small, precise volumes of liquid.

Test Tube
Small glass tube, open at the top.

Used for small-scale reactions, heating, sample storage.

Test Tube Rack
A stand with holes to hold test tubes upright.

Organizes test tubes during experiments.

Test Tube Holder
A clamp-like tool.

Used to hold test tubes when they are hot or must not be touched directly.

Watch Glass
A concave piece of glass.

Used as a surface to evaporate liquids, hold small samples, or cover beakers.

Evaporating Dish
A shallow, heat-resistant dish.

Used to evaporate solvents and concentrate solutions.

Crucible (and Lid)
A small, very heat-resistant dish (often porcelain or metal).

Used for heating substances to very high temperatures.

Florence Flask (Round-bottom Flask)
A flask with a round body and narrow neck.

Ideal for uniform heating and boiling.

Flat-bottom Flask
Like a round-bottom, but with flat base.

Easier to place on a surface for heating or stirring.

Separatory Funnel
A pear-shaped glass funnel with a stopcock.

Used in liquid-liquid extractions for separating immiscible liquids.

Dropping Funnel
Similar to a separatory funnel but typically used to add reagents slowly.

Filter Funnel
A basic conical funnel.

Used to pour liquids into containers with narrow openings or to hold filter paper for filtration.

Thistle Funnel
A funnel with a long, narrow stem.

Good for adding liquid to flasks without disturbing contents.

Volumetric Pipette
Specifically calibrated for a single volume.

For highly precise transfer of a set volume.

Graduated Pipette
Marked along its length.

For measuring and transferring variable but precise volumes.

B. Stirring, Mixing & Supporting Tools
Glass Rod (Stirring Rod)
A solid glass stick.

Used for stirring solutions.

Magnetic Stirrer (Stir Plate)
A device creating a rotating magnetic field.

For stirring solutions automatically (with a magnetic stir bar).

Tripod Stand
Three-legged metal stand.

Used to support glassware (like beakers) when heating.

Wire Gauze
Metal mesh (often with a ceramic center).

Placed on a tripod to distribute heat evenly and support glassware.

Bunsen Burner
A gas burner producing a flame.

Used for heating, sterilization, or combustion.

Utility Clamp (2-prong clamp)
A clamp with two prongs, attached to a stand.

Used to hold glassware (flasks, beakers) securely.

Retort / Ring Stand
A vertical rod on a base.

Used to mount clamps, rings, or other apparatus.

Iron Ring
A metal ring that attaches to a ring stand.

Provides a platform for wire gauze and glassware.

Clay Triangle
A triangular support made of wires + ceramic.

Used to hold a crucible during heating.

Thermometer
Glass or digital.

Measures temperature of liquids or gas.

C. Safety Equipment
Safety Goggles / Glasses
Protective eyewear.

Protects eyes from splashes, debris, and chemical hazards.

Lab Coat
Protective garment.

Shields skin and clothing from spills and splashes.

Gloves (Nitrile / Latex / Chemical-resistant)
Disposable or reusable.

Protects hands when handling hazardous materials.

Fume Hood
A ventilated enclosure.

Draws away harmful vapors, protecting users from inhalation exposure.

Emergency Shower / Eyewash Station
Safety equipment hooked to water lines.

Used to flush chemicals off the body or eyes in case of an accident.

Fire Extinguisher
A portable device to put out fires.

Essential in case of lab fire.

First Aid Kit
Contains bandages, antiseptics, etc.

For treating minor injuries.

D. Heating, Sterilization & Incubation
Autoclave
A pressurized steam sterilizer.

Sterilizes media, glassware, and instruments.

Hot Air Oven
Enclosed oven that uses dry heat.

Used for sterilization and drying glassware or samples.

Water Bath (Thermostatic / Rectangular)
A container of water heated to a set temperature.

For incubating samples, heating gently, or enzymatic reactions.

Dry Bath Incubator
Metal block that maintains a constant temperature.

For incubating tubes without water.

Bacteriological Incubator
Temperature-controlled chamber.

For growing microbial cultures under controlled conditions.

Rotator (Shaker)
A mechanical device that rotates or shakes samples.

For mixing, cell culture, or serology (e.g. VDRL rotator).

Heating Mantle
A flexible heating device for flasks.

Provides uniform heating for round-bottom flasks.

Reflux Apparatus
Setup including condenser + flask.

Allows continual boiling and condensation in reactions.

Distillation Unit
Glassware setup (flask, condenser, receiver).

For separating components based on boiling point.

Soxhlet Extraction Unit
A special extraction setup.

Used to continuously extract compounds using a solvent.

E. Separation, Filtration & Purification
Centrifuge
A motorized device spinning samples at high speed.

Separates components by density.

Microcentrifuge
A smaller centrifuge for micro-tubes.

Used in molecular biology / biochemistry.

Filter Paper
Special paper used in funnels.

Separates solids from liquids by filtration.

Buchner Funnel
A funnel with a flat perforated plate.

Used with vacuum to filter solids quickly.

Vacuum Filtration Flask (Büchner Flask)
A thick-walled flask with a side arm.

Connects to vacuum for filtration.

Desiccator
A sealed container.

Used to keep samples dry or to store desiccated glassware.

Chromatography Column
A long glass or plastic tube packed with stationary phase.

Separates mixtures based on chemical affinities.

Dialysis Tubing
Semi-permeable membrane tubing.

Used to separate small molecules from larger ones (e.g., in protein purification).

F. Microscopy & Imaging
Light Microscope
Uses visible light and lenses.

For viewing cells, tissues, and microorganisms.

Compound Microscope
A light microscope with multiple objective lenses.

For high magnification of thin samples.

Fluorescence Microscope
Uses fluorescent dyes + specific light.

For observing labeled molecules in cells / tissues.

Electron Microscope
Uses electrons instead of light.

For super high-resolution imaging (ultrastructure).

Trinocular Microscope
A microscope with an extra camera/eyepiece.

Useful when projecting or photographing samples.

Microscope Slides
Flat glass pieces.

Place samples for microscopy.

Cover Slips
Thin glass square/rectangle.

Placed over sample on a slide to protect and flatten it.

Petri Dish
A shallow, circular dish with lid.

For culturing cells / microorganisms.

Staining Bottles / Reagent Bottles
Small bottles for dyes or stains.

Used in preparing microscopic slides.

G. Weighing / Measuring Mass
Analytical Balance
A very precise balance (digital or mechanical).

For measuring very small masses accurately.

Top-Loading Balance
Less precise than analytical.

Good for routine weighing of reagents.

Spring Balance
Uses a spring to measure force / weight.

Common in physics labs.

Beam Balance
A two-pan mechanical balance.

Traditional way to compare mass.

Weighing Boat / Weighing Paper
Disposable vessels used with balance.

To hold samples during weighing without contaminating balance.

H. pH / Electrical / Chemical Analysis
pH Meter / pH Probe
Electronic device.

Measures acidity/basicity (pH) of solutions.

Conductivity Meter
Measures electrical conductivity of a solution.

Useful in water quality testing.

Spectrophotometer (UV-Vis)
Measures light absorbance at different wavelengths.

Determines concentration of solutions.

Double Beam Spectrophotometer
A spectrophotometer with two light paths.

More accurate, compensates for source fluctuations.

Gas Chromatograph (GC)
Separates volatile compounds.

Useful in chemical analysis, environmental testing, pharmaceuticals.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC)
Separates non-volatile compounds.

Widely used in analytical & pharmaceutical labs.

Mass Spectrometer (MS)
Measures mass-to-charge ratio of ions.

Identifies molecular structure.

pH Indicator / Litmus Paper
Paper strips with pH-sensitive dye.

Quick, qualitative check of pH.

Calorimeter
Measures heat changes in reactions.

Useful in thermochemistry.

I. Biological / Tissue Work
Microtome (Rotary)
Cuts extremely thin tissue sections.

For histology / pathology.

Tissue Processor
Automated unit to process tissue (fixation, dehydration, embedding).

Organ Bath
Chamber for tissues/organs in solution.

For physiological experiments.

Tissue Flotation Bath
Water bath used to float paraffin sections.

For transferring delicate tissue sections to slides. H.L. Scientific Industries

Anaerobic Gas Pack Jar
A sealed jar.

Creates an oxygen-free environment for anaerobic microbial culture. H.L. Scientific Industries

Blood Bank Refrigerator
Specialized fridge for blood / plasma.

Maintains optimum storage temperature. H.L. Scientific Industries

Rotary Shaker / Orbital Shaker
Shakes flasks or tubes in a circular motion.

For cell culture mixing. H.L. Scientific Industries

Vortex Mixer
Rapidly mixes small tubes.

Useful for re-suspending cells or reagents.

J. Physics / Demonstration / Educational Apparatus
Michelson Interferometer
Optical instrument that splits and recombines light beams.

Demonstrates interference, measures wavelengths. H.L. Scientific Industries

Bending of Beam Apparatus
Beam + weights + measurements.

Studies deflection under load; used in material science. H.L. Scientific Industries

Lee & Charlton Apparatus
Device to study thermal conductivity.

Used for poor conductors. H.L. Scientific Industries

Bell in Bell Jar
A bell inside a vacuum chamber.

Demonstrates that sound needs a medium to propagate. H.L. Scientific Industries

Galvanometer
Measures small electric currents.

Often used in physics experiments.

Multimeter
Measures voltage, current, resistance (combined).

Very common in electronic labs.

Resistance Box
A box of selectable resistors.

Provides variable resistance in circuits.

LCR Bridge
Measures Inductance (L), Capacitance (C), and Resistance (R).

Useful for component testing.

K. Miscellaneous / Support Tools
Mortar & Pestle
A bowl (mortar) and a grinding tool (pestle).

Used to grind solid chemicals into powder.

Forceps / Tweezers
Small tweezer-like instrument.

Used to pick up small objects, delicate manipulation.

Scalpel / Dissecting Knife
Sharp blade.

Used in dissection and surgery.

Splint (Wooden)
Thin wooden strip.

Used to ignite bunsen burners safely or test gases.

Laboratory Drying Rack
A pegboard for hanging glassware.

Used to drain and dry test tubes, flasks, funnels, etc.