Laboratory flask

Laboratory flasks are vessels or containers that fall into the category of <a href="/facts/Laboratory_equipment/ExprhaRV">laboratory equipment</a> known as <a href="/facts/Laboratory_glassware/M4CMuHRh">glassware</a>. In laboratory and other scientific settings, they are usually referred to simply as flasks. Flasks come in a number of shapes and a wide range of sizes, but a common distinguishing aspect in their shapes is a wider vessel "body" and one (or sometimes more) narrower tubular sections at the top called necks which have an opening at the top. Laboratory flask sizes are specified by the volume they can hold, typically in <a href="/facts/International_System_of_Units/S7YLglNz">SI</a> units such as <a href="/facts/Milliliter/QKwbQz8I">milliliters</a> (mL or ml) or <a href="/facts/Liter/QKwbQz8I">liters</a> (L or l). Laboratory flasks have traditionally been made of <a href="/facts/Glass/hezRsAGf">glass</a>, but can also be made of <a href="/facts/Plastic/Kla5QItn">plastic</a>.
At the opening(s) at top of the neck of some glass flasks such as <a href="/facts/Round-bottom_flask/LKnL9pFq">round-bottom flasks</a>, <a href="/facts/Retort/lwrgFkIC">retorts</a>, or sometimes <a href="/facts/Volumetric_flask/MQ3htQW3">volumetric flasks</a>, there are outer (or female) tapered (conical) <a href="/facts/Ground_glass_joint/FzmKPLXw">ground glass joints</a>. Some flasks, especially volumetric flasks, come with a <a href="/facts/Laboratory_rubber_stopper/nvvfcYGP">laboratory rubber stopper</a>, <a href="/facts/Bung/5YN0vlYt">bung</a>, or cap for capping the opening at the top of the neck. Such stoppers can be made of glass or plastic. Glass stoppers typically have a matching tapered inner (or male) <a href="/facts/Ground_glass_joint/FzmKPLXw">ground glass joint</a> surface, but often only of stopper quality. Flasks which do not come with such stoppers or caps included may be capped with a <a href="/facts/Rubber_bung/nvvfcYGP">rubber bung</a> or <a href="/facts/Cork_(material)/GFsWrA8a">cork</a> stopper.
Flasks can be used for making solutions or for holding, containing, collecting, or sometimes volumetrically measuring <a href="/facts/Chemical/EWcXU41d">chemicals</a>, samples, <a href="/facts/Solution_(chemistry)/MGchhMQV">solutions</a>, etc. for <a href="/facts/Chemical_reaction/GpqWlKrz">chemical reactions</a> or other processes such as mixing, heating, cooling, dissolving, <a href="/facts/Precipitation_(chemistry)/s3BgsLLY">precipitation</a>, <a href="/facts/Boiling/BHxWzT2k">boiling</a> (as in <a href="/facts/Distillation/plDvUMxn">distillation</a>), or <a href="/facts/Chemical_analysis/MHQf3YP6">analysis</a>.

Laboratory flask open-in-new

Laboratory flask