For many students, spending time in the laboratory for science class is one of the things that they look forward to the most. Compared to remaining seated for the duration of a period listening to lectures, leafing through books and scribbling down notes, working in a laboratory can be so much more exciting.
And what's not to like? Students get to put on safety clothing and gear, handle fragile glass containers, measure and mix together different liquids or powders, witness a chemical reaction or two, peer into microscopes, obtain all kinds of samples, and so much more. It's the closest thing that kids can get to whipping up potions or performing magic tricks. Of course, the element of danger in some lab experiments is one of the reasons why your students can't help but be drawn to "cool" lab activities, too.
If you're getting your science class ready for a series of experiments, then the lab has to be equipped with all the necessary supplies so that every student will be able to participate, whether they're working individually or in pairs and groups. Provided below are the important categories of lab supplies that you will need.
Glassware and plasticware. A great number of science experiments will involve pouring liquids into containers, so you need to have just the right kinds of glass and plastic ones to use for particular activities. These items will include beakers, test tubes, Erlenmeyer flasks, volumetric flasks, boiling and filtering flasks, graduated cylinders, funnels, crucibles, spot plates, bottles, mortars and pestles, and evaporating dishes. It's best to get glass containers made of durable, chemical-resistant borosilicate glass that are ideal for use by students.
Measurement equipment. A great deal of the success of chemistry experiments lies in correctly measuring out the substances to be used. Your school lab will require burettes, pipettes, lab droppers, lab thermometers, masses and weights, balances and digital scales, spring scales, and metric measurement equipment.
Alcohol lamps and burners. Adding to the excitement of working in the lab is the prospect of fiddling with the equipment that will apply heat to the chemical solutions (students must be taught, guided and supervised accordingly with regard to using these, of course). You'll need alcohol lamps and stands, ring stands, portable micro lab burners, wickless alcohol lamp burners, ethyl alcohol, butane gas refills, tripod stands, burner lighters, lab hot plates, magnetic stirrers, and electric hot plates.
Chemicals. Students will need to learn about all kinds of chemical processes and reactions, and a wide range of chemicals will need to be stocked in your school lab. These will include water gel powders, acids and chemical powders, along with stains for showing details on microscopes.
Lab safety equipment. No student should be allowed to enter the school lab without using the proper safety gear to protect themselves from possible accidents with the chemicals they are handling. You need an ample supply of safety goggles, lab safety gloves, lab coats, and lab aprons.