A laboratory tripod is a three-legged platform used to support flasks and beakers. Tripods are usually made of stainless steel or

aluminium Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. I ...

and made light-weight for efficient portability within the lab. Often a

wire gauze A wire gauze or wire mesh is a sheet of thin metal that has net-like patterns. Wire gauze is placed on the support ring that is attached to the retort stand between the Bunsen burner and glassware or is placed on a tripod to support the beakers, ...

is placed on top of the tripod to provide a flat base for glassware. Tripods are generally tall enough for a

bunsen burner A Bunsen burner, named after Robert Bunsen, is a kind of ambient air gas burner used as laboratory equipment; it produces a single open gas flame, and is used for heating, sterilization, and combustion. The gas can be natural gas (which is ma ...

to be placed underneath.

Variations

There are several different designs. The top is commonly triangular or circular, and sometimes the three legs can be removed and adjusted depending on the preferences of the user. Laboratory tripod with other lab equipments

Laboratory tripod with other lab equipments

Usage

A laboratory tripod is most commonly used in middle and high schools for basic heating experiments. However, tripods and bunsen burners have been made obsolete by hot plates, which are considered to be safer since there is no direct contact with the flame.

References

{{Laboratory equipment Laboratory equipment

Variations

Usage

See also

References