21) Lab Essentials : Measuring Cylinder

Microbiology Lab Essentials :

Glasswares :

21) Measuring Cylinder : 

A graduated cylinder also known as measuring cylinder is a common piece of laboratory equipment used to measure the volume of a liquid. It has a narrow cylindrical shape each marked line on the graduated cylinder represents the amount of liquid that has been measured.

The precise value would be suppose 40.0 ± 0.1 or 40.1 to 39.9 mL

Graduated cylinders are available in these following sizes ,

10 ml, 20 ml, 50 ml, 100 ml, 200 ml, 250 ml, 300 ml, 500 ml, 1000 ml, and 2000 ml, 

in 5 ml, 10 ml and 20 ml increments.

Glass cylinders have white scales and are made from Borosilicate glass. They also have a solid base, and pour spout.

Graduated cylinders have numbers on the side that help you determine the volume. Volume is measured in units called liters or fractions of liters called milliliters (ml).

✓ Reading a Graduated Cylinder :

Place the graduated cylinder on a flat surface and view the height of the liquid in the cylinder with your eyes directly level with the liquid. 

The liquid will tend to curve downward. This curve is called the meniscus. Always read the measurement at the bottom of the meniscus.