Science laboratory equipment includes instruments and apparatus used to demonstrate scientific principles, helping students understand theoretical concepts and connect them to real-life phenomena. This equipment also allows for the validation and verification of scientific ideas. Successful experimental results reinforce classroom theories, translating abstract concepts into practical, observable experiences.

In a controlled, hazard-free environment, students observe scientific principles at work under the guidance of instructors. Key fields that utilize laboratory equipment include physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics. 

Benefits of science laboratory equipment in schools

Translating theory into practice is crucial in all aspects of life. Just as people find evidence more convincing than mere assertions, students need educators to demonstrate scientific concepts for them to truly understand and believe in their lessons.

• When students work together on experiments, they develop teamwork skills that benefit them later in life. Practical experimentation also builds the dexterity needed to handle precise equipment and perform detailed research. This skill becomes critical in advanced study and research roles.
• School laboratories offer students their first experience with hands-on research. Validating scientific theories in this environment fosters respect and enthusiasm for the subject. This encouragement leads students to pursue research careers and, eventually, become scientists.
• Thus, investing in quality scientific equipment is essential for schools aiming to nurture future scientists. This investment also helps raise their reputation by producing notable alumni.
• Research and experimentation also instill curiosity and excitement for science. While theoretical lessons can become monotonous, hands-on lab classes provide a stimulating break, motivating students to learn. 
• Critical thinking and creativity are further developed in lab sessions, laying a foundation for independent thought that is essential in later scientific endeavors. School lab experiments may lack the rigor of professional research but are invaluable in building these skills.
• Memorization and retention of core concepts are essential for exam success and future application. Practical lessons aid visualization, helping students retain scientific principles for a lifetime.

Labkafe has been a leading provider in the school laboratory equipment industry, supplying top-quality lab apparatus that equips schools to foster successful, innovative students.

Science laboratory equipment required for schools

High-quality, up-to-date laboratory equipment is essential for effective school research and demonstration experiments. Without modern apparatus, students risk encountering faulty results or physical hazards. They also miss the chance to build the dexterity and skills needed for advanced labs later in their academic careers.

For students to meet national standards and feel confident in their abilities, Indian schools must invest in durable, advanced lab equipment. This investment encourages competitive skill development.

Here are essential laboratory items:

• Microscope: This tool focuses light on specimens and uses lenses to magnify objects such as bacteria, tissue sections, and minute plant structures.
• Test Tubes: Manufacturers make these tubes from heat-resistant glass, allowing them to withstand direct flames and enabling users to prepare and heat various chemicals.
• Beakers: Crafted from durable borosilicate glass, Griffin and Berzelius beakers store and heat larger liquid quantities.
• Bunsen Burner: A primary heat source provides a quick, adjustable flame of both oxidizing and non-oxidizing types, although users can also employ water baths.

The quality and durability of lab equipment are crucial, as reliable construction ensures both safety and longevity. Labkafe’s school lab packages offer high-quality lab apparatus tailored to meet educational needs. Connect with Labkafe’s lab experts for guidance on selecting the right equipment for your institution.

Essential precautions for school laboratories

Laboratories provide an exciting learning environment for students, but they must conduct experiments under proper supervision and implement safety measures.

• Lab authorities should establish clear rules detailing how and when students perform experiments. They must closely supervise these activities to ensure adherence and maintain discipline.
• Students should avoid frivolous activities, as well as eating or drinking in the lab.
• Students should handle chemicals carefully, following specific protocols for mixing and heating.
• Students must wear safety goggles, lab coats, and closed shoes, while they must restrict loose clothing, open hair, and sandals.
• Creating a trusting environment is essential, encouraging students to report any incidents without fear. 

Teachers play a key role by handling situations patiently, offering clear instructions during stressful or dangerous situations. Discipline should be enforced only for repeated offenses. Teachers’ calm and responsible behavior models how to handle challenges effectively. This approach helps students build both technical and interpersonal skills while learning in the lab.
At Labkafe, we provide a range of readymade lab equipment packages for schools and colleges. This reduces the effort of schools in figuring out which lab equipment is needed while building new school labs or renovating labs. Contact our lab experts for a free lab planning consultation.

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Fields Requiring Composite Skill Lab in Enhancing Learning

1. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Why Do They Need It?

The rapid advancements in STEM fields demand that students not only understand theoretical concepts but also engage in practical, hands-on learning. Therefore, Composite Skill Labs equipped with robotics kits, coding software, 3D printers, and electronic tools which provide students with the opportunity to bring their classroom lessons to life are a must.

Benefits

Students can build and program robots, design 3D models, and experiment with circuits, thereby developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovative skills.

Composite skill lab (creative visualization)

2. Arts and Design

Why They Need It

The role of a skill lab in enhancing learning is undeniable. Creativity is as important as technical knowledge in today’s world. Arts and Design fields such as graphic design, photography, music production, and filmmaking thrive in environments where students have access to the right tools and technologies.

Benefits

Composite Skill Labs enable students to explore their artistic talents and technical skills simultaneously, working on projects like digital art, filmmaking, and music composition, thus preparing them for careers in creative industries.

3. Vocational Skill Lab in Enhancing Learning

Why They Need It

The importance of vocational training in carpentry, plumbing, electrical wiring, and similar trades cannot be overstated, especially for students aiming for careers in these areas. 

Benefits

Composite Skill Labs provide the perfect setting for hands-on learning in these fields, therefore allowing students to practice and perfect their skills in a safe and controlled environment, which is crucial for their future job readiness.

4. Entrepreneurship

Why They Need It

Entrepreneurship education requires a unique environment where students can brainstorm, prototype, and develop business ideas. 

Benefits

In a Composite Skill Lab, students can access mentorship, market research tools, and collaborative spaces that are essential for nurturing entrepreneurial skills. Hence, activities like developing business plans, creating prototypes, and pitching ideas help in building a strong foundation for future business leaders.

5. Skill Labs Enhancing Learning in Health and Wellness

Why They Need It

Understanding health and wellness is vital for students, both personally and professionally. Whether it’s learning about nutrition, fitness, or mental health, practical experience in these areas is invaluable.

Benefits

Composite Skill Labs can be used to teach students how to prepare healthy meals, design fitness programs, and practice mindfulness. Therefore, labs also offer training in first aid, which is a crucial life skill.

6. Environmental Science and Sustainability

Why They Need It

As the world grapples with environmental challenges, educating students about sustainability is more important than ever. 

Benefits

The Composite Skill Lab is enhancing learning by equipping students with the tools to conduct experiments and projects related to ecology, renewable energy, and conservation, therefore making them aware of tools needed in environmental science research. In summary, this hands-on approach encourages students to become proactive in finding solutions to environmental problems.

7. Digital Literacy and Media Skill Labs

Why They Need It

In the digital age, media literacy and the ability to navigate the online world are essential skills. Therefore, students must learn how to create and share digital content responsibly and effectively.

Benefits

Composite Skill Labs, focused on digital literacy and media, provides resources for students to produce podcasts, create websites, in addition to engagement in safe online communication. These skills are critical in preparing students for the digital workforce in addition to inculcating responsible online behavior.

School lab constructed by Labkafe

In essence, the introduction of Composite Skill Labs marks a significant step forward in the educational journey of CBSE schools, one that promises to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the 21st century.
Contact Labkafe’s team of experts for a free lab consultation for your schools.

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What is a Wash Bottle

A wash bottle is basically a squeeze bottle with a long bent beak, seen mostly in chemistry and biology laboratories. They are generally made of semi-soft plastic that gives away when pushed. This pressure on the bottle squeezes it and enforces the same amount of pressure on the liquid inside. The liquid then comes out speedily through the long thin nozzle.

Wash bottles are built for one main purpose ‒ to wash lab glassware. Beakers, test tubes, flasks etc. are often hard to wash in the sink due to their shape and size. Also, the sink supplies just tepid water, not any specialized washing liquid like distilled water or ethyl alcohol. You have to use a wash bottle in a laboratory for cases like this.

Physical Description

Wash bottles are generally cylindrical, with a screw-top head and a pipe inserted into the cap. The pipe is generally curved ninety degrees and has a very narrow nozzle on the tip. The pipe may or may not extend into the interior of the bottle, almost to the bottom. If it is so, then you can use the wash bottle while holding it upright. If not, you will need to tilt or overturn the bottle to get the liquid out.

Generally, wash bottles are made of polyethylene, which is a flexible material that does not react with most chemicals, least of all, solvents. Since the purpose of wash bottles is to squirt a strong solvent onto any chemical dirt or residue remaining in the glassware, this material is eminently good to store and use such solvents. 

Wash Bottle Types

There are mainly three kinds of wash bottles you will find in most labs. These are:

• Standard Wash Bottle: These are the most common types of wash bottles and they are built as described above. The pipes in these bottles reach the bottom. 
• LDPE Wash Bottles: These are transparent and thin, and have a long, soft nozzle that can snake into pipe-like glassware , like burettes. 
• Self-venting Wash Bottles: Instead of a pipe through the bottle cap, these have short stubby pipes on the side of them. You don’t need to press them to drop the liquid, you just tilt the bottle. Hence, you can carefully control the flow of the solvent as well.

Apart from the above, wash bottles are available in various sizes, from 100-125 ml to 1000 ml volumes.

Wash Bottle Solvents

Examples of solvents used in wash bottles: deionized water, detergent solutions, rinse solvents such as acetone, isopropanol or ethanol, or sodium hypochlorite solution in the case of biology labs. That is because bioscience labs often deal with things like lipids and gram-negative bacteria etc, which aren’t much responsive to most solvents other than sodium hypochlorite.

Wash Bottle Color Codes

Since the same laboratory may use multiple types of solvents for washing glassware and plasticware, ready-made wash bottles come with coded colors on their bottle caps. This coding scheme is standardized more or less around the world. The color code is as follows.

• Red ‒ acetone
• White ‒ ethanol / sodium hypochlorite (they are almost never used in the same lab)
• Green ‒ methanol
• Yellow ‒ isopropanol
• Blue ‒ distilled water

In labs where different types of solvents are not used in wash bottles, you can keep only distilled water in white-capped wash bottles, according to this convention. You can use this color coding to identify the kind of washing liquid present in the bottle. It reduces the chance of mistakes.

In wash bottles with solvents other than water, you will also see color-coded safety labels. Since most of those solvents listed above are highly flammable and/or poisonous, you should be extremely careful while using them. Never squirt liquid on a hot surface, try your best to not touch the liquid with bare skin ‒ and for crying out loud don’t try to drink it! Yes, even though it is just distilled water. These are the precautions to take while using wash bottles.

Labkafe supplies schools, colleges, and research institutions with various kinds of wash bottles ‒ mainly of Tarsons and Polylab brands. We have both color-marked and unmarked variations of wash bottles. They are very durable and dependable, and you can use them in your chemistry and biology labs easily. You are bound to get some kind of wash bottles in our lab packages , do check out the lab equipment list to make sure you have what you need.

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20 most commonly used equipment in school and college laboratories

Here is the detail guide about Lab Equipment Package designed for 40 students as per school board curriculum and get school affiliation easily (CBSE/ICSE/Others).

Physics equipment:

1. Battery eliminator – A Battery Eliminator is a device that converts AC mains power to a stable DC output, used in physics experiments to replace batteries for consistent voltage supply
2. Various meters – This includes –
   • Ammeter: Measures the electric current flowing through a circuit.
   • Voltmeter: Gauges the voltage or electric potential difference between two points in a circuit.
   • Ohmmeter: Determines the electrical resistance of a component or circuit.
   • Galvanometer: Detects and measures small electric currents.
   • Multimeter: Combines multiple measurement functions like voltage, current, and resistance in one device.
   • Wattmeter: Measures the power consumed or produced by an electrical device.
   • Hygrometer: Measures the humidity levels in the atmosphere.
   • Manometer: Measures pressure in gases or liquids.
   • Thermometer: Measures temperature.
   • Barometer: Measures atmospheric pressure
3. Lens – A lens is a curved piece of glass or plastic that bends light to focus or disperse rays, used in devices like microscopes and cameras to magnify or clarify images.
4. Magnet – A magnet is a material that generates a magnetic field, attracting certain metals like iron and enabling experiments with magnetic forces.
5. Vernier caliper – A Vernier caliper is a precise measuring tool used in physics to measure the internal and external dimensions, as well as the depth of objects, with high accuracy.

Glassware:

1. Test tube – A small cylindrical container used for holding, mixing, or heating small quantities of liquids in experiments
2. Beaker – A wide-mouthed, cylindrical container with a spout, used for stirring, mixing, and heating liquids.
3. Flask -A container with a narrow neck, used for heating, mixing, or storing liquids, reducing evaporation and contamination.
4. Pipette – A slender tube used to accurately measure and transfer small volumes of liquid
5. Burette – A graduated glass tube with a tap at one end, used for delivering precise volumes of liquid, especially in titrations.

Devices:

1. Bunsen burner
2. Microscope
3. Hot plate
4. Magnetic stirrer
5. Water bath

Safety equipment:

1. Lab glasses
2. Lab coats
3. Nitrile gloves
4. Eye wash
5. Emergency shower  
    

WhatsApp us today to get any of the products above, or all of them!

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Here is the detail guide about Lab Equipment Package designed for 40 students as per school board curriculum and get school affiliation easily (CBSE/ICSE/Others).

Let us learn about the 20 common school science laboratory equipment that you will see in the school science laboratory and their uses.

1. Microscope:

A microscope is a very basic and needed equipment in the biology laboratory. A simple light microscope (compound microscope) is the one, which is mostly used in schools and colleges and it uses natural or artificial light and a series of magnifying lenses to observe a tiny specimen. Below is the schematic diagram of a compound microscope with details of its parts:

A microscope operates on the principles of refraction of light, and takes advantage of how convex lenses bend light.  There are generally two lenses – objective and oculus. The objective stays very close to the sample to be seen and makes a virtual large image of it. The oculus stays close to the eye and enlarges the previous image even further, and we see that.

2. Test tubes:

The next very common apparatus is the test tube. They are usually cylindrical pipes made up of glass, with a circular opening on one side and a rounded bottom on the other side. They come in different sizes but the most common standard size is 18*150 mm. Test tubes are one of the most important apparatus as they are functional from storing to mixing reagents in any chemical or biological reactions.

Test tubes come in various sizes and shapes, including plastic tubes used in medical labs. But in most cases what you will see are the above kind of test tube which is most widely used. You may also get to see sample collection tubes if you’re giving blood for some pathological examination.

3. Beakers:

Beakers are another cylindrical utensil made up of glass, with a flat bottom and an upper opening, which may or may not have a spout. They are of varying sizes and are used to hold, heat, or mix substances with the proper measure. Beakers come in every size from tiny 20 ml cups to liter-sized buckets, and everything in between – but 250-500 ml beakers are most common.

Beakers are very much favored in labs because of their ease of use. With the flat bottom and straight sides, they are very stable on most surfaces and best for boiling stuff safely; and with the large opening, you can pour things in or out of it, or stir the contents. However, that large opening also makes it unsuitable for storage purposes – use flasks for that.

4. Magnifying glass:

A magnifying glass is one of the first introduced lab equipment among the students. As the name suggests, it is used to view enlarged or magnified images of objects or read the small calibrations marked on many equipments. It has a convex lens for object enlargement and usually has a wooden handle to hold it.

A magnifying glass works with the principle of virtual image creation due to the refraction of light. The centerpiece of a magnifying glass is a convex lens (a round slab of glass fat in the center and progressively slender towards the edges). When light passes through it, a larger-than-life image of the objective is created behind it, which we see from the other side of the glass. The wooden or plastic handle, attached to the lens with a metal or plastic rim, helps you to hold the magnifying glass steadily.   

5. Volumetric flask:

This is one of the most important equipments of any lab, which is made up of glass and is calibrated to hold a precise volume of liquids at any precise temperature. Different sizes of volumetric flasks are available, each calibrated for the exact measurement of liquids and solutions. In chemistry labs, it is mostly used in the preparation of standard solutions.

A volumetric flask has a large bulbous body on the bottom, which may have a flattened or round bottom. the body has a long narrow neck, good for plugging a stopper. Sometimes they will be graduated, meaning there will be volume scales printed on the side so that you can measure how much liquid is in the flask. They are generally made of borosilicate glass, or hardened glass if you need to heat the contents to a higher temperature. You can also use volumetric flasks to store some liquid you made for a long time. 

6. Bunsen burner:

This apparatus produces a single open flame and it is used for heating and sterilization purposes in the various experiments conducted in labs. A laboratory often needs a lot of things heated or boiled, and a bunsen burner was tailor-made for this purpose. It runs on standard LPG fuel and can reach a fairly respectable temperature, unlike a spirit lamp.

The bunsen burner produces a single clean, steady, sootless flame of high temperature, and that’s why it is so well-favored in laboratories. It is relatively safe to use when used with caution. Most burners are connected by gas hoses to a single distribution point on a lab workbench , which includes internal plumbing for the gas distribution network.

7. Dropper

The dropper, also known as Pasteur pipette, is a common small apparatus, usually made up of plastic or glass cylinder, having a small nozzle on one side and a rubber holder on the other. It is used to put the liquids or solutions in any medium dropwise, that is, one drop at a time, a piece of necessary equipment when any reagent is required in an extremely small amount in a solution.

Pipettes are the big brothers of droppers and you can take up larger amounts of liquids in them. Both pipettes and droppers have special cleaning procedures, and you will need a bit of training before you can properly use them in a laboratory safely. 

8. Thermometer:

Every lab is equipped with a basic thermometer as many times, certain chemical or biological reactions can be carried out in any particular temperature range only and so to proceed, the thermometer becomes very necessary to measure the temperature of the required solution before moving forward with further reaction procedure.

The thermometers that we generally use in laboratories are analog types, though there are digital versions out there as well. It is a pencil-thin tube of clear glass with graduated temperature readings with a hairline bore through its middle through which the indicator liquid rises. 

9. Tongs:

Tongs, though not much in use, are common and basic apparatus in any lab. They are used to grasp and lift hot vessels and harmful substances during any kind of reaction taking place in the lab. Many fingers have burned due to careless handling of hot or dangerous substances in labs. Therefore, make it a habit to handle things with tongs unless you are absolutely sure otherwise.

Strictly speaking, tongs are not exactly lab safety apparatus, but they indeed save you from a lot of harm. There are two kinds of tongs used in labs – larger ones with a hinge, and small tweezers. Both are coated with non-reactive material so that they can resist corrosion up to a certain extent.

10. Brushes:

Not many people know it, but cleaning things are one of the biggest portions of everyday lab life. Keeping glassware and apparatus clean is the first step to achieving precision and perfection. Brushes serve as the cleansing apparatus of the test tubes, as they are the only things that can get fit into the narrow-mouthed test tubes and other cylindrical and narrow objects.

Though brushes are cleaning apparatus, still clean them after your cleaning spree! Otherwise, next time you try to clean something with the same brush it will get dirtier instead. What’s worse, if the substances are reactive then you may be looking at a potential accident. So, clean your cleaning equipment too – it makes sense.

11. Weighing machines:

When we perform experiments in the laboratories, we deal with very small quantities of reagents usually in the units of micro or mini grams. With a general physical balance, it is tough to get the desired and exact amounts of the reagents and so these weighing machines come into the picture. These machines help in measuring very small units of substances in terms of weight.

There are two kinds of lab weighing machines – precision balances and analytical balances. Precision balances are the most common and they can measure milligrams. Analytical balances are, however, so sensitive that even air currents can disturb them. This is why they have a glass box enclosure over the weighing plate. Analytical balances can measure parts of micrograms.

12. Wash bottles:

The wash bottles are laboratory consumables used for cleansing and sterilization purposes. These bottles are made up of plastic, which serves as a squeezy container with a long nozzle. They mostly contain distilled water, ethanol or deionized water.

13. Spatula:

These laboratory spatulas are very much similar to the kitchen like spatulas found in our home but they are just very smaller in size in comparison. The spatulas are usually resistant to heat and acids, hence making them suitable for large range use in the laboratory experiments.

14. Spring balance:

Spring balance also referred to as Newton meter, is another instrument helpful in measuring the weight of an object. This apparatus consists of a spring and a hook and it works on the principle of Hooke’s law, according to which, the force applied to an object is directly proportional to the extension, provided that the elastic limit is not reached.

15. Burette:

Its mostly used in the titration reactions, and is handful in delivering a known volume of any substance to other equipment. This apparatus is a long-graduated tube, with a stopcock present at the lower end. It usually comes in the sizes of 10ml, 25ml or 50ml.

16. Watch glass:

This apparatus is more commonly found in chemistry laboratories and is made up of a concave piece of glass. It is normally used to hold solids, evaporate liquids, and heat small quantities of different substances as per the need of the experiment.

17. Funnels:

Funnels are necessary equipment to pour substances and solutions in narrow-mouthed test tubes and conical flasks. There is variety of its available, most common ones are filter, thistle, and dropping funnels.

18. Ammeter:

Ammeter is important lab apparatus used to measure the amount of current flowing; very popular equipment presents in physics labs. It is also very handful during electrolysis reactions.

19. Crucible:

Crucibles are made up of porcelain and are used to store and heat substances when required to be heated at high temperatures since glassware are not always suitable for such high heat involving experiments.

20. Litmus and filter papers:

These two cannot be called apparatus in a proper way, but they serve as one of the most important and basic things that will be required in any kind of laboratories. The litmus paper serves to identify the pH of any solution by changing colors whereas, the filter paper serves in the filtration process.

Overall, we can call them the basic or common laboratory apparatus we use in a school physics, chemistry, biology, and composite lab and it varies more or less depending on the type of laboratory a person is working in.

You may also check out our blog on the list of physics equipment and its uses  HERE . 

We are a School laboratory furniture and Lab equipment manufacturer and supplier. In laboratory furniture for school, we first design the entire laboratory room keeping in mind the requirements as per affiliation CBSE Bye-Laws. Also, we take care of the complete designing and installation of laboratory furniture.

In the lab equipment section, we have a wide range of glassware, chemicals, equipment and other lab accessories. Most of them are available for order online on our website but some of them can be procured on demand.

If you have need:-

• laboratory equipment or lab furniture requirements for school
• composite lab equipment list for school
• Physics lab equipment list for school
• Chemistry lab equipment list for
• Biology lab equipment list for school
• Pharmacy lab equipment

do drop a message through chat or mail us at  sales@labkafe.com   or call +919147163562 and we’ll get in touch with you.

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