CHEMICAL LABORATORY

The 4 + 1 most important tools for your laboratory

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS

What is a chemical laboratory? What tools do you need for mixing? For the separation? What are the most useful measuring instruments in the laboratory? Together we will understand which are the most used instruments in chemical laboratories, their characteristics and the best models released on the market.

Let's refresh the terms for a moment:
What is a laboratory? Strictly speaking, a laboratory is a place, room or building, equipped for experimentation or scientific research.
What is a chemical laboratory? A suitable place for chemical and analytical investigations and for the preparation of chemicals and mixtures.
What are the tools of a chemical laboratory? In a chemical laboratory you can find objects for safety (glasses, gloves, gowns, etc.), glassware (beakers, flasks, flasks, etc.) and scientific instruments, to support the transformations implemented by the operator. This is where Jointlab helps you, providing you with the ideal tools for your processes.
In this in-depth study we will list the main operations within a chemical laboratory and the ideal tools for these processes.
Let's start!

The 4 + 1 basic tools of a chemical laboratory:

1. Measurement tools: analytical or precision electronic scales.

2. Mixing tools: magnetic and/or heating stirrers.

3. Separation tools: centrifuges.

4. Tools for heat exchange: thermostatic baths or water baths.

+1. Stirring tools: mechanical shaft stirrers, vibrations and shakers.

The main features of the Ohaus Pioneer analytical balance. Economical and complete.

Analytical scale
Thanks to the analytical digital balance you can measure the mass of your samples or mixtures up to one hundredth of a milligram.
Once you have identified the scale with the functions you want, you will have numerous models with different capacity / resolution; this to best suit your needs. It is not possible to have a scale that can weigh both 100kg and 0.01mg! The various models will serve to cover this whole range step by step.
There are many types of balances, but for the chemical laboratory mainly analytical and technical (precision) balances are used. The analytical balances, equipped with a draft shield, have a maximum measuring range of 200g / 0.01mg; technical scales have a maximum range of 2kg / 0.01g.

Jointlab relies on the quality of Ohaus, which has been building scales for more than a century. Its scales are among the most advanced on the market, but it supplies scales of all kinds, for every occasion and budget: scales for school, university, laboratory, industry, shops etc. Go to our electronic balances page, to discover all the Ohaus possibilities, or go directly to the analytical balances page and choose the right series for your laboratory.

Magnetic stirrers and hot plates
Heating plates are used to heat glassware or its liquid or solid content. They are usually used when solutions need to be heated to 100°C or more and are considered to be much safer than open flame heaters such as Bunsen burners.

Some hot plates are equipped with a magnetic stirrer, providing the ability to equip two important tools in one, saving valuable bench space. The agitation allows to create homogeneous mixtures starting from different elements. The stirring takes place thanks to a magnetic stir bar placed inside the glassware to be mixed; under the stirring surface, a powerful magnetic motor will turn the stir bar on itself and mixing, at a controlled speed, can take place in total safety and with the utmost precision.

Jointlab recommends the brand new Arex 5 models by Velp, an Italian manufacturer known all over the world.
AREX 5 are ideal for laboratories that require precise control of sample temperature and maximum reproducibility. Completely redesigned in 2023, these magnetic stirrers are equipped with safety systems, high quality materials and new control panels. Beautiful to keep on the counter and very easy to use.

Introducing the Frontier 5000 Series Multifunction Centrifuges.

In the video below, a comprehensive explanation of how a centrifuge works.
The instrument used is a Frontier 5000 FC5706 Ohaus.

Centrifuges
A centrifuge is laboratory equipment used to separate liquids, gases or fluids. The device is commonly used in hospitals, laboratory tests, medical sciences and biomedical research centers where they are used to separate a suspended substance from a medium. The process, known as centrifugation, involves the use of centrifugal force to separate mixtures such as blood, DNA / RNA, and cell cultures. As the equipment spins, the centrifugal force causes the denser substances in the mixture to begin to separate. These substances are then deposited towards the outside while the lighter substances remain in the center.

Centrifuges vary according to size, desired speed and sample capacity. It is possible to have refrigerated centrifuges, microcentrifuges and high-speed refrigerated centrifuges.

Jointlab recommends you rely on Ohaus's long experience to provide you with quality products with cutting-edge performance and features. Thanks to convenient kits, it is possible to order the desired centrifuge, complete with the most used rotors. Find yours here: centrifuges.

Video dedicated to LAUDA Hydro models. Power on, setup and use. In particular, in the video the Hydro 8A model.

Thermostatic bath or water-bath
The ring bain maries for columns, Erlenmeyer flasks or beakers are suitable for continuous operation, even unattended. By incubating samples in water it is possible to keep them at a constant temperature for a long period of time. Applications include: preparation of cellular, biological or medical samples; microbiological test incubation; thawing of samples; conducting chemical reactions.
With very high build quality, Jointlab offers you the LAUDA models, the HYDRO water baths. Digital control panel, precise and with stainless steel tank, are suitable for all the needs of biological, medical or biochemical laboratories.

Velp's powerful OHS mechanical stirrers and the possibility of remote control with the new 'connect' models.

Inserting the stirring tray, accessories and setting up a digital LAUDA Varioshake.

Mechanical stirrers with rod, vibrations and shakers.
These tools cover all the stirring and mixing needs in your laboratory.
Rod stirrers are used for mixing, suspension, emulsification and homogenization of samples, especially if the substance has a higher viscosity than that of water.
The vibrating stirrer are fast and convenient for mixing substances in test tubes (Eppendorf, flasks, flasks, etc.) thanks to the orbital movement.
The numerous shakers, on the other hand, mix at low speeds and have different types of movements such as orbital, reciprocating, oscillating, three-dimensional or rotating. The applications for these tools are very numerous, including ELISA tests, cell cultures, immunoassays, protein studies, bacterial and yeast cultures, dyes / bleaches, absorption techniques, DNA studies, hybridizations. They can be found in many laboratories, both in schools and in analytical, quality assurance and research centers.

Velp, Ohaus and LAUDA all offer their particular shakers. Velp offers Rod stirrers for every budget, up to the beautiful OHS ADVANCE, wifi connected to the Velp cloud. While, for the vibrating stirrer we have the Velp models, with a unique design and the reliable Ohaus.

See the author's articles
Federico Ellade Peruzzotti

In Jointlab since 2013 as a creator of texts and graphics.

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