chemistry Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the elements that make up matter to the compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions: their composition, structure, proper ...

, a retort stand, also called a clamp stand,Laboratory-Equipment.com (2020):
Large Clamp Stand, for Q700
. Online catalog item 5323-07. Accessed on 202-02-18. a ring stand, or a support stand,Fischer Scientific (2020):
American Educational Products Tripod Base Support Stands
Online catalog entry S47809. Accessed on 202-02-18. is a piece of

scientific Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...

equipment intended to support other pieces of equipment and glassware — for instance, burettes, test tubes and flasks. The typical ring stand consists of a heavy base and a vertical rod, both usually made of metal. A number of accessories, such as clamps of various types and iron rings, can be attached to the rod by thumbscrews, at whatever heights and orientations are necessary to support the target equipment.

Structure

Retort stands commonly have a cast iron base of around 200 x 125 mm. The rod may be up to 750 mm and screws into a female thread in the base. The height of the rod is sufficient for most experiments and usually fits within fume hoods and glove boxes. If a taller rod is required, the solid base is usually replaced by a tripod for stability when supporting larger apparatuses, such as extremely large tubes, bulk chemical bottles etc. The height can be adjusted by moving the attached point of the stand and the test tube. The base lowers

centre of gravity In physics, the center of mass of a distribution of mass in space (sometimes referred to as the balance point) is the unique point where the weighted relative position of the distributed mass sums to zero. This is the point to which a force may ...

of the stand, thus increasing stability.

Uses

Retort stands are often used in the chemistry laboratory. For instance, they are used for distillation experiments (such as organic distillations) and titrations (where they hold a burette). They are also used as supports in

filtration Filtration is a physical separation process that separates solid matter and fluid from a mixture using a ''filter medium'' that has a complex structure through which only the fluid can pass. Solid particles that cannot pass through the filter ...

Gallery

File:Ringstand with a ring clamp.jpg, Retort stand with a ring clamp File:Ringstand.jpg, Retort stand with a burette clamp File:Ring stand.jpg, Steel rod

References

{{Laboratory equipment Alchemical tools Laboratory equipment

Structure

Uses

Gallery

See also

References