Functions Of Erlenmeyer Flask

Author: Austin Fog

An Erlenmyer Flask, also known as a conical flask or titration flask, is a type of laboratory flask that has a flat bottom, a conical body, and a cylindrical neck. It is named after the German chemist Emil Erlenmeyer (1825-1909), who created it in 1860.

It is mostly used the various test in the https://fyitester.com/ Laboratory.

  • What is an Erlenmeyer flask?

Erlenmeyer flask parts definition indicates that it is a glass bottle that has the narrowest upper part. This flask is used in chemistry and biology laboratories to mix substances. If you want to know what function the flask keeps reading.

Maybe you're wondering what Erlenmeyer means, and we can tell you that it's the name of a well-known teacher originally from Munich (Emil Erlenmeyer) who was the originator of this beaker. For that reason, it was named Erlenmeyer flask.

  • What is the function of an Erlenmeyer flask?

Many wonders what an Erlenmeyer flask is for. This container serves to mix contents of the flask by agitation, without risk of spillage, making them suitable for titrations by placing them under the burette and adding solvent to the indicator in the Erlenmeyer flask. And now that we know what the lab Florence flask is for, let's see how it is used.

  • How is this container used?

The characteristics of this flask make it the most suitable for boiling liquids. The hot vapors are condensed in the upper section of the Erlenmeyer flask, reducing the loss of solvent. The narrow necks of the Erlenmeyer flasks can also withstand filter funnels. The last two attributes of the Erlenmeyer flasks make them especially suitable for recrystallization.

  1. The sample to be purified is heated to boiling and sufficient solvent is added for the complete solution.
  2. The receiving flask is filled with a small amount of solvent and heated to boiling.
  3. The hot solution is filtered through a fluted filter paper in the receiving flask.
  4. The hot vapors of the boiling solvent keep the funnel of the filter hot, preventing premature crystallization.

Like the beakers, Erlenmeyer flasks are usually not suitable for accurate volumetric measurements since their stamped volumes are approximate with approximately 5% accuracy.

  • What other function does this instrument have?

Erlenmeyer flasks are also used in microbiology for the preparation of microbial cultures. Erlenmeyer flasks used in cell culture are sterilized and may have vented closures to improve gas exchange during incubation and agitation.

  • What to take into account when using it?

The use of minimum liquid volumes should not be more than one-fifth of the total volume of the flask.

Baffles molded on the inner surface of the flask serve to maximize gas transfer and promote chaotic mixing when the flasks are shaken orbit ally.

The rate of oxygen transfer in the Erlenmeyer flasks depends on the speed of agitation, the volume of the liquid and the design of the stirred flask.

The frequency of vibration has the most significant impact on oxygen transfer.

Under certain conditions, the shaking process leads to a failure in the movement of the liquid, called "out of phase phenomenon".

This phenomenon has been characterized intensely by the bioreactors of stirred flasks. Out-of-phase conditions are associated with a sharp decrease in mix performance, oxygen transfer and power input.

The main factor for the out-of-phase operation is the viscosity of the culture medium, but also the diameter of the container, the low filling levels and/or a high number of deflectors.

  • What material is an Erlenmeyer flask made of?

Many people wonder what the flask is made of. We can indicate with certainty that the Erlenmeyer flasks are glass or plastic containers, which have wide bases, with sides that are narrowed upwards to a short vertical neck. They can be graduated and, often, frosted glass stains or enamel are used where they can be labeled with a pencil.

Depending on what they want to use, they can be made of glass or plastic and can be found in a wide range of volumes. The mouth of the Erlenmeyer flask may have a lip with beads that can be stopped or covered. Alternatively, the neck may be equipped with ground glass or another connector for use with more specialized plugs or attachment to other appliances.