Microscopes
One of the most important and basic pieces of equipment in any lab is the microscope. Under a microscope, scientists can observe cells, tissues, and other small living or non-living objects that are too small to see with the naked eye. There are different types of microscopes suited for various purposes, from simple compound light microscopes to more complex electron microscopes. Compound light microscopes use glass lenses and light to magnify small specimens up to 1000 times their actual size. They are versatile instruments well suited for general biology, microbiology, histology and other areas of research. Electron microscopes work on the same basic principles as light microscopes but use electron beams instead of light. This allows them to achieve resolutions over 1000 times better than light-based optical microscopes. Electron microscopes are usually focused on very specific applications like materials science, microbiology or pathology where ultra-high magnifications are needed.
Pipettes and Micropipettes
Precise measurement and transfer of small volumes of liquids is essential for many laboratory procedures like DNA extraction, setting up reactions, making reagents and solutions. Pipettes are indispensable tools that allow scientists to work with volumes ranging from microliters to milliliters accurately. Manual pipettes come in single-channel and multichannel varieties and use custom tips for picking up and dispensing liquids. Micropipettes or electronic pipettes have digital displays and adjustable buttons to set volumes precisely without having to manually adjust a dial. They also offer more consistent accuracy than manual pipettes and reduce repetitive stress injuries. Common micropipette ranges are from 0.1 to 10 μL, 1 to 100 μL, 10 to 1000 μL and 100 to 10000 μL, covering the need for measuring minute volumes in molecular biology techniques up to larger volumes used in chemistry and biochemistry.
Centrifuges
Separating components of a mixture based on density is routinely done in many experimental procedures. Centrifuges are indispensable tools that use centrifugal force to accomplish such separations rapidly. Tabletop centrifuges are compact and versatile with speed and timer controls. Swing-bucket centrifuges feature removable buckets that hold tubes and swings them out for quick access after separation. High-speed refrigerated centrifuges can handle larger volumes and withstand continuous operation. Ultracentrifuges generate remarkably high g-forces over 100000 x g allowing for separation of components that are very close in density, even precipitating viruses from solution. Specialized equipment include density gradient centrifuges and zonal centrifuges designed for analytical ultracentrifugation techniques. Centrifuges are pivotal in areas like biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, immunology and more to sediment cells, isolate organelles and macromolecules from solution.
Balances and Scales
Obtaining measurement of mass and weight accurately is fundamental in chemistry and related sciences. Different types of balances and scales fill this requirement in laboratories. Analytical balances have a high level of precision in the milligram range. They are used for quantitative chemical analysis and optimization of procedures requiring precise weighing. Top loading balances feature a circular pan above while analytical balances designed for powder weighing include protective covers. Precision balances are semi-micro weighing devices with a readability down to 0.1 mg. For larger sample weighing within a kilogram range, top loading benches scales or portable scales are suitable. Moisture analyzers or Halogen moisture analyzers thermogravimetrically determine water content in materials. Specialized equipment under this category include density determination kits, torque sensors for surface tension and viscosity testing devices. An array of balances and scales equips labs to gather essential mass and weight data precisely.
Bunsen Burners and Hot Plates
Heating is routinely needed in chemistry and biochemistry labs for various purposes like chemical reactions, sterilization and incubation. Bunsen burners are the traditional way to provide a gas flame. The blue flame setting oxidizes organic compounds completely while the non-luminous yellow flame is reducing. Hot plates offer controllable and adjustable heating by electric coils. Thermo mixer models clamp flasks and tubes and agitate the contents while heating. Heating mantles or oil baths are designed for tasks requiring immersion heating such as distillation. Autoclaves use pressurized steam for high temperature sterilization essential in microbiology. Incubators maintain precise temperature and humidity conditions for growth of cell cultures or microbial colonies. A diverse range of heating devices equips labs for various thermal processing from basic flame heating to precise temperature-controlled incubation.
Water Baths and Shakers
Incubating and agitating reagents, samples and growth media is pivotal in many biological laboratories. Water baths maintain stable temperatures for procedures such as nucleic acid hybridization, temperature cycling reactions like PCR and enzymatic digests. Basic models consist of a thermally insulated box with an electronic temperature controller and water reservoir. More advanced units feature touchscreens for setting multiple temperature zones, time delays and continuous shaking or stirring functions. Orbital shakers provide adjustable platforms for agitating cell or bacterial cultures uniformly in flasks or multi-well plates during growth phases. Reciprocating and platform shakers have linear or elliptical motion patterns at different speeds. Controlled environment incubator shakers perfectly suit applications requiring simultaneous agitation and temperature control. Such incubation and agitation equipment constitutes an indispensable infrastructure for biological and biochemical studies.
This covers some of the essential categories of laboratory equipment that support scientific research and experimentation across disciplines from life sciences and chemistry to materials science and physics. Having the appropriate tools enables scientists to conduct analyses, replicate reactions, grow microbial cultures, observe small structures, measure mass and volumes, control thermal processing and much more – advancing our understanding of nature.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it