What Is a Conical Flask?
An Erlenmeyer flask (also called a conical flask) is a laboratory glassware that is used to mix, heat, and store chemical solutions particularly when performing titration and reaction experiments.
Conical flask: This is a narrow cone-shaped laboratory-flask with a flat bottom and a narrow neck.
It is made in such a way that it can easily be swirled to contain liquids without spillage thus making it one of the most used glassware in chemistry labs.
Borosilicate glass is usually used to construct conical flasks, making them highly heat and chemical resistant.
What is the use of this glassware in the laboratory?
A conical flask is used for:
- Blending chemical solutions without difficulty.
- Carrying out acid-base titrations.
- Experiments involving heating of liquids.
- Performing chemical operations.
- Storage of solutions temporarily.
- The slender neck does not allow the evaporation and does not splash during mixing.
Why is It Called an Erlenmeyer Flask?
The conical flask is also referred to as Erlenmeyer flask since it was invented by a German chemist known as Emil Erlenmeyer.
The names are used to denote the same glassware in the laboratory.
Conical Flask Diagram.
- Wide flat base (stability)
- Conical body (easy mixing)
- Narrow neck (spill prevention)
Types of Conical Flasks
- General laboratory use Standard Conical Flask – General laboratory use
- Graduated conical Flask- Approximate volume of flask.
- Stoppered Conical Flask – storing and mixing.
- Wide-Neck Conical Flask – Cleaning and filling are easy.
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5 Uses of a Conical Flask
- Mixing liquids by swirling
- Conducting titration studies.
- Heating chemical solutions
- Sample storage to be carried out temporarily.
- Gathering the filtrates in filtration.
Cautions When working with a Conical Flask.
- Do not overfill
- Heat gradually
- Use clamp when heating
- Do not use abrupt changes of temperature.
- Check and see that it is crack free.
