Volumetric flask: Encyclopedia - Volumetric flask

Volumetric flask

A volumetric flask (vol flask for short) is a piece of laboratory glassware used to measure a very precise and accurate amount of a liquid, and is used for such when the amount is too big for a pipette or burette. It is shaped like a Florence flask with a flatter bottom so as to not tip over. The neck is marked (usually by a scratch or etch on the glass) at a very precise measurement. When the liquid has been added to that point (so the bottom of the meniscus is on the line), it is usually accurate to within a small fraction of a percent and highly precise. However, a single flask can usually only be used for a certain measurement, e.g. a 250.00mL flask can only be used to measure 250mL. The volume mark is usually made by machine, so it can be more assuredly accurate than a hand-made mark.

The use of a volumetric flask almost always involves either measuring a certain amount of a liquid, or diluting a liquid to the size of the flask. This is done by adding the solvent (or the liquid to be measured) to the flask until it reaches the neck, at which point it is usually added much more slowly, via pipette or dropper depending on the size of the flask. One must be careful not to add more than the amount the flask is supposed to measure; if one does so, this usually results in a complete redo. This can be a big problem, especially when working with expensive chemicals. When the flask has been completely filled it is then stoppered and inverted several times if it is a dilution taking place.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Volumetric flask", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki