Bottles are part of the most commonly used instrumentation in the laboratory. Their purpose is essentially that of a container for liquids, and they can be equipped with different characteristics depending on the uses for which they are used. Consequently, it is possible to find numerous variations of such equipment in shape, colour and material. The most commonly used material is glass, but models are also made of plastic and aluminium.
Bottle characteristics
As outlined above, there are numerous models of bottles in different shapes and materials. However, it is possible to outline some common characteristics of all models. They have a cylindrical shape and a flat bottom, although there are also models with a rectangular shape. In addition, the bottles are characterised by the presence of a cap. The choice of the material of the latter is decided according to the material the bottle is to contain, and the amount of heat to which it is subjected.
Finally, some bottle models are graduated, i.e. they indicate the measurement of their contents by means of a graduation marked along their height. However, this measurement is purely indicative, and they are rarely used for accurate measuring.
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Glass and plastic bottles
The standard and generally most widely used model is characterised by a cylindrical shape and flat bottom. These bottles are fitted with a cap, generally made of plastic, but which may also be made of ground glass or metal in some models. The cylindrical shape of the bottles may end in a narrow or wide neck depending on their use.
Spray bottles
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Also known simply as 'spray bottles', they are special bottle models with a special cap that allows them to spray their contents. They are generally made of a flexible plastic material such as polyethylene. This must allow the user to exert pressure on the bottle in order to be able to spray the liquid it contains. A curved tube is attached to the cap of the spray bottle. This reaches the bottom of the bottle at one end in order to be able to draw out the entire contents, and is curved at its other end.
Further models
Further models also exist.