Handled beaker of 18/8 stainless steel, 100 ml

A handled beaker of 18/8 stainless steel with a capacity of 100 ml, with a spout and a graduation every 25 ml, serves for carrying, mixing and heating liquids in laboratory work. A diameter of 58 mm and a height of 59 mm give proportions that stay stable on a hotplate. A general-purpose laboratory product from the Laboratory accessories category.

A beaker is a working vessel: it takes the reagent, lets it be stirred, warmed and poured out. The handle and the spout make the difference when hot liquid is poured, because the vessel is held away from the heated zone. 18/8 steel conducts heat far better than glass, so the contents warm evenly and without the risk of cracking under thermal shock. The graduation every 25 ml serves for a rough sense of volume, not for measuring out.

The graduation on a beaker is indicative; volume is measured with a cylinder or a volumetric flask. Steel is opaque, so the progress of dissolving is judged by time and stirring rather than by eye. The 18/8 alloy stands up to corrosion well, yet chlorides and concentrated acids can leave pitting, which is why a glass vessel is better for longer contact with such solutions. After work the beaker is washed and dried, because marks left by evaporated salts eat into the surface over time.

• Name and variant: beaker with a handle and a spout, graduated every 25 ml
• Capacity: 100 ml
• Dimensions: diameter 58 mm, height 59 mm
• Material: 18/8 stainless steel

What does 18/8 steel mean?

The composition of the alloy: roughly 18% chromium and 8% nickel. Chromium gives corrosion resistance, nickel ductility and structural stability, and the alloy as a whole conducts heat well.

Can the 25 ml graduation be used for measuring out?

Not for work that requires accuracy. The graduation on a beaker shows roughly how much liquid is in the vessel; a measuring cylinder and a volumetric flask are the tools for measuring out.

Can a steel beaker go on a hotplate?

Yes, and that is its typical use, because steel does not crack under thermal shock. The vessel is not left hot and empty, though, and pouring is done by holding the handle rather than the wall.