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Quizzes > Science

Lab Equipment Quiz: Identify Common Tools and Their Uses

Quick lab tools quiz with instant feedback. See what you know in minutes.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Jessica WraightUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of laboratory tools including beakers flasks microscopes and test tubes on a golden yellow background

This lab equipment quiz helps you identify common instruments, match names to pictures, and catch gaps before a practical. If you want a tougher round, try our lab equipment test, or check the year 7 lab equipment quiz. Before you head to the bench, review essentials with a laboratory safety quiz.

What is the primary use of a beaker in a chemistry lab?
Transferring samples under vacuum
Determining the pH of solutions
Measuring precise volumes to the microliter
Mixing, stirring, and holding liquids for rough volume measurements
Beakers are versatile pieces of glassware designed for mixing, stirring, heating, and holding liquids with approximate volume markings. They are not intended for precise volume measurements due to their wide spouts and coarse graduations. For exact measurements, volumetric flasks or graduated cylinders should be used.
Which piece of equipment is used to measure liquid volumes accurately to the nearest milliliter?
Beaker
Erlenmeyer flask
Graduated cylinder
Test tube
Graduated cylinders have finely spaced markings that allow accurate volume measurement, often to the nearest milliliter. They are more precise than beakers or flasks, which are intended for approximate measurements. Always read at eye level and account for the meniscus when measuring.
What lab tool is commonly used to heat samples at high temperature in an open flame?
Hot plate
Water bath
Centrifuge
Bunsen burner
A Bunsen burner produces an adjustable open flame and is routinely used to heat substances directly in test tubes or beakers. Hot plates and water baths provide indirect or lower-temperature heating without flames. Centrifuges separate materials by density rather than heat.
Which piece of laboratory glassware is best for mixing by swirling without risk of spill?
Erlenmeyer flask
Volumetric flask
Graduated cylinder
Beaker
Erlenmeyer flasks have a conical shape with a narrow neck, allowing mixtures to be swirled without spilling. They also support stopper closures and are used for reactions requiring containment of gases or for titrations. Beakers and graduated cylinders have wider openings and are more prone to splashing.
Which instrument is used to measure the mass of a substance in the lab?
Graduated cylinder
Triple beam balance
Burette
Volumetric pipette
A triple beam balance measures mass by comparing an unknown sample to known masses on three beams, offering high accuracy for laboratory work. Volumetric pipettes and burettes measure volume, while graduated cylinders measure liquid volume approximately.
What is a pipette primarily used for in laboratory procedures?
Heating samples
Measuring mass
Filtering solids
Transferring precise volumes of liquid
Pipettes are designed to accurately deliver or transfer small volumes of liquids, often in the microliter or milliliter range. They are not used for heating or mass measurement. Precision pipettes come in various types such as volumetric, graduated, and micropipettes.
What is the main purpose of a test tube rack?
Adjusting pH
Measuring solution density
Holding and organizing test tubes upright
Heating samples
Test tube racks hold multiple test tubes upright for organization, safe handling, and reactions. They prevent tubes from rolling off the bench and make it easier to transport groups of tubes. They do not heat, measure density, or affect pH.
Which lab apparatus is used specifically for holding and heating test tubes over a flame?
Pipette
Test tube clamp
Mortar and pestle
Funnel
Test tube clamps attach to a ring stand or can be held by hand to securely grip a test tube while it is heated over a flame. Mortar and pestles grind solids, funnels transfer liquids, and pipettes deliver precise volumes.
What is the primary use of a burette in titration experiments?
Delivering known volumes of titrant dropwise
Mixing reagents
Measuring pH changes directly
Storing samples
Burettes are long glass tubes with fine graduations used to deliver precise, variable volumes of a titrant into a solution until the end point is reached. They allow control over dropwise addition which is crucial for accurate titrations.
Which instrument provides the highest accuracy for measuring temperature in a reaction?
Thermometer strip
Thermocouple probe with digital readout
Infrared thermometer
Liquid - in - glass thermometer
Thermocouple probes paired with digital readouts offer high precision and fast response times for temperature measurements. They rely on voltage changes at metal junctions and are more accurate than liquid - in - glass or strip thermometers.
What distinguishes a volumetric flask from a graduated cylinder?
Volumetric flasks can be heated directly over flame
Graduated cylinders are always made of plastic
Volumetric flasks have a single, precise graduation mark
Graduated cylinders hold more liquid than flasks
Volumetric flasks feature a single calibration mark for highly accurate volume measurements of one specified volume. Graduated cylinders have multiple marks for approximate measurements across a range. Flasks are not designed for direct flame heating.
Which device is typically used to sterilize laboratory glassware and media under steam pressure?
Ultraviolet lamp
Drying oven
Muffle furnace
Autoclave
Autoclaves use pressurized steam at high temperatures (usually 121°C) to sterilize equipment and media, effectively killing microbes and spores. Drying ovens and muffle furnaces use dry heat, which is slower and less effective on spores, while UV lamps only sterilize surfaces.
Which feature of a Büchner funnel makes it effective for vacuum filtration?
Flat, perforated plate to support filter paper
Graduated volume markings
Conical side wall
Long narrow stem
A Büchner funnel has a flat, perforated plate inside that supports filter paper and allows reduced pressure beneath the funnel to draw liquid through quickly. This design speeds up filtration compared to gravity alone.
Which instrument is used to measure the pH of a solution accurately?
pH indicator paper
Spectrophotometer
pH meter
Colorimeter
A pH meter uses a glass electrode and reference electrode to measure the hydrogen ion activity in solution, providing precise digital readings. pH paper gives only an approximate result based on color change, while spectrophotometers and colorimeters measure absorbance.
What is the purpose of a desiccator in a laboratory?
Measuring humidity
Heating samples to dryness
Neutralizing acids
Storing moisture-sensitive samples in a dry atmosphere
A desiccator provides a sealed environment containing a desiccant, such as silica gel, to maintain a low-humidity atmosphere for drying or storing hygroscopic samples. It prevents moisture uptake during cooling or between uses.
Which component is essential to create an airtight seal when performing vacuum filtration?
Graduated cylinder
Funnel stem
Vacuum adapter (side-arm adapter)
Filter paper
A vacuum adapter, also called a side-arm adapter, connects between the Büchner funnel and the filter flask, ensuring an airtight seal for effective reduced-pressure filtration. Filter paper alone cannot seal the system.
How does a micropipette differ from a standard pipette?
It measures pH instead of volume
It uses glass bulbs instead of plastic tips
It is adjustable for microliter volumes and uses disposable tips
It delivers larger, milliliter-scale volumes
Micropipettes are precision instruments capable of accurately dispensing microliter-scale volumes, and they use disposable plastic tips to avoid cross-contamination. Standard pipettes typically handle larger volumes and may require manual rinsing or cleaning between uses.
What principle underlies the operation of an analytical balance?
Electromagnetic force restoration compensates for the load
Thermal expansion correlates with weight
Spring deformation determines mass
Mechanical lever systems balance weights
Modern analytical balances use electromagnetic force restoration: a feedback loop adjusts an electromagnetic force to counteract the mass, providing highly accurate digital readings. Traditional lever or spring balances are less precise.
Which piece of equipment is most suitable for gently heating volatile solvents under reduced pressure?
Heating mantle
Drying oven
Reflux condenser
Rotary evaporator
A rotary evaporator applies reduced pressure and gentle rotation with controlled heating to evaporate and recover volatile solvents efficiently. It prevents bumping and maintains a low boiling point under vacuum.
What is the main function of a Soxhlet extractor?
Drying samples under vacuum
Measuring solution conductivity
Continuous solvent extraction of solids
Fractional distillation of mixtures
A Soxhlet extractor allows repeated washing of a solid sample with fresh solvent, continuously extracting soluble compounds without needing large solvent volumes. The solvent vapor condenses and drips back in cycles.
Why are volumetric pipettes calibrated 'to deliver' rather than 'to contain'?
They are lined with absorbent material
They expand under heat to release extra liquid
They leave a consistent residual film that does not affect the delivered volume
They evaporate a fixed amount during delivery
Volumetric pipettes are calibrated 'to deliver' (TD) because a small residual liquid film remains after draining. Manufacturers account for this film so that the volume delivered matches the pipette's mark. 'To contain' pipettes require rinsing to expel all liquid.
What is the purpose of a Büchner flask in vacuum filtration setups?
To neutralize acidic filtrate
To measure small liquid aliquots
To securely hold filter paper
To create a vacuum chamber beneath the funnel
A Büchner flask has a side-arm port that connects to a vacuum source, creating reduced pressure inside the flask. This speeds up filtration through the Büchner funnel and filter paper placed atop the flask.
Which safety equipment is essential when handling strong acids to protect both the user and the environment?
Chemical fume hood
Biological safety cabinet
Biosafety cabinet
Laminar flow hood
A chemical fume hood exhausts harmful vapors and aerosols generated when handling strong acids, protecting the user and preventing laboratory contamination. Biosafety cabinets and laminar flow hoods are designed for biological containment or particle-free environments, not acid fumes.
What advantage does a magnetic stirrer with hot plate offer over a traditional Bunsen burner for heating and mixing?
Combines uniform stirring with precise temperature control
Provides open flame for direct heating
Operates under inert gas atmosphere
Increases heating rate beyond combustive limits
Magnetic stirrers with hot plates provide both controlled heating and continuous stirring, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and preventing localized overheating. They are safer than open flames and allow digital temperature settings.
What design feature of a rotary evaporator's condenser coil maximizes solvent recovery during distillation under vacuum?
A vertical serpentine tube to reduce flow rate
A single straight tube for laminar flow
A spiral coil with increased surface area to enhance cooling
A smooth bulb condenser for gentle condensation
Rotary evaporator condensers often use spiral or coil designs to increase contact surface area between the coolant and vapor, improving heat exchange and maximizing solvent condensation. This geometry enhances recovery efficiency under vacuum conditions.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Common Laboratory Instruments -

    Accurately name and describe the purpose of each tool found in a standard laboratory equipment worksheet, reinforcing understanding of essential lab instruments.

  2. Match Instruments to Their Functions -

    Analyze various lab equipment quiz questions to correctly associate devices like pipettes, beakers, and Bunsen burners with their specific uses and operational principles.

  3. Apply Proper Usage Techniques -

    Demonstrate correct handling methods and safety considerations for laboratory tools by applying knowledge gained from chemistry lab equipment trivia scenarios.

  4. Differentiate Measurement Tools -

    Distinguish between volumetric and analytical instruments through targeted quiz prompts, ensuring precise measurements in experimental procedures.

  5. Evaluate Understanding Through Self-Assessment -

    Use quiz feedback to gauge proficiency with laboratory equipment worksheet answers and identify areas for further review, promoting continuous improvement.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Volumetric Glassware Accuracy -

    Volumetric pipettes and flasks are calibrated to deliver precise volumes; always read the bottom of the meniscus at eye level to minimize parallax error. For example, a Class A 10 mL pipette (per NIST standards) has a tolerance of ±0.01 mL. Remember the mnemonic "Meniscus Must Meet My Mark" to reinforce correct reading technique.

  2. Analytical Balance Handling -

    Analytical balances measure mass to ±0.1 mg; always tare the container before adding sample and close all drafts shields to avoid convection currents. Calibrate with certified weights regularly following manufacturer or ACS guidelines. A quick tip: "Zero Before You Weigh" ensures consistent results every time.

  3. pH Meter Calibration -

    Accurate pH measurement requires a two-point calibration using standard buffer solutions (pH 4.00 and 7.00) at matching temperatures. Between measurements, rinse the electrode with deionized water and blot dry to prevent cross-contamination (source: Sigma-Aldrich technical bulletin). A reliable trick: label buffer bottles "A" and "B" to avoid swapping during calibration.

  4. Microscope Magnification & Focusing -

    Total magnification equals objective power × eyepiece power (e.g., 40× objective × 10× eyepiece = 400×). Begin focusing with the lowest objective, then switch up, making only fine adjustments at higher powers to protect slides and lenses. The "coarse first, fine last" rule prevents lens collision and preserves specimen integrity (per University lab manuals).

  5. Centrifuge Speed vs. RCF -

    Relative centrifugal force (RCF) is calculated as RCF = 1.118×10❻❵ × r(cm) × (RPM)², linking rotor radius and speed to sample g-force. Always balance tubes symmetrically and never exceed the manufacturer's max RPM to avoid rotor failure (FDA/NIH safety guidance). Keep a conversion chart handy to switch between RPM and RCF effortlessly.

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