Volumetric Equipment Use and Operation

1. Volumetric equipment includes the beaker, graduated cylinder, flask, liter pitcher, and centrifuge tube. This equipment is used to measure the volume of a liquid in milliliters (ml).

2. Before measuring a liquid, place the piece of volumetric equipment on a flat level surface, such as a table.

3. Turn the piece of equipment so that the volume graduations can be seen easily.

4. Move so that you can view the graduations at eye level. This will allow you to take an accurate reading of a liquid’s volume.

5. If using a falcon tube, hold it in your hand at eye level and turn the graduations toward you.

6. Pour the liquid slowly into the piece of equipment so that you do not pass the volume that is being measured.

7. If measuring 50 ml, add liquid until the surface of the liquid is even with the 50 ml mark on the piece of equipment.

8. If you should pour more liquid into the piece of equipment than is needed, remove the excess liquid with a dropper or slowly pour the liquid back into its container.

9. The graduations on each piece of equipment vary. The main graduations on each piece of equipment are labeled with a number. To determine a graduation between those labeled, observe the number and distance of graduations between the labeled ones. For example, the 50 ml beaker has volume labeled at 20, 40, 60, and 80 ml. Only one smaller graduation is marked between each of these measurements. Therefore, the graduation between 20 and 40 ml is 30 ml.