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Glassware in Focus – The Erlenmeyer Flask

2021-12-01

Glassware in Focus – The Erlenmeyer Flask

The Erlenmeyer Flask, also commonly known as conical flares or titration flares, were designed and named by German chemist Richard August Carl Emil Erlenmeyer.

The Erlenmeyer Flask has a wide flat bottom and an inverted cylindrical neck. The mouth of the flask is rimmed, which helps to pour wine, and a rubber stopper can be added to store liquid. Due to their wide range of applications, they are one of the most common laboratory glassware in use today.

Conical flares are available in a wide range of specifications, from 50ml to 1000ml as standard. Custom sizes can be made if needed, with the help of scientific glass blowing. Their different sizes make them a useful addition to almost any laboratory. Chemistry and biology will both use conical flares for a number of different functions.

In biology
In biology and chemistry, the main function of conical flares is to mix liquids. Although the dipstick is printed on the side of the flask, it is rarely used for measurement because of its uneven side.

In biology, flasks are used as recipes for microbial culture. Conical flares used for this purpose often have additional functions such as facilitating gas exchange during cultivation and shaking.

The use of chemical
The distinctive shape of the Erlenmeyer flask, with its sloping sides and slender neck, allows liquids to mix by rotating without the risk of spilling. This ability makes them suitable for titration through a positioned burette.

Erlenmeyer flasks can also be used for boiling reactions. The conical shape means that the hot steam condenses at the neck of the flask, preventing solvent loss. However, because Erlenmeyer flares are made of relatively thin glass, the temperature to which they are subjected must be carefully controlled, or they may shatter as a result of thermal shock.

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