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ScienceOnline is an interactive resource for students and teachers of science.

The site provides access to a range of activities related to the New Zealand science curriculum for Years 9-11. Both Astronomy and Earth Science have been included as well as the core science areas of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. There are interactive notes and diagrams, self-marking tests, and useful links to other science websites. The site is completely up to date with NCEA requirements at Year 11 with details of achievement standards linked to topics in each of the five subject areas.

ScienceOnline has been developed by Peter Biggs, former science teacher and author of the Blue Science Book, and Sandy McGivern, science teacher, who manages the site.

In this document:

• Common lab equipment
• Equipment list
• Mix N Match game

Common lab equipment

Below is a table showing a list of the most commonly used pieces of lab equipment. As well as a photo and a description, we have drawn the commonly used symbol for each piece of equipment. These symbols are used to make quick, clear and easy to follow diagrams of how an experiment should be set up. Because everyone uses the same (or very similar) symbols, it means that anyone can look at a diagram that you have drawn, and know exactly how you want them to set things up.

Just so that everyone can follow your diagrams, it is important to make them easy to read. Your teacher will probably ask you to follow these pointers.

• Make your diagrams really big. Tiny diagrams are hard to follow.
• Use pencil. Twinking out mistakes still looks really messy, plus you have to wait for it to dry all the time.
• Use a ruler for any straight lines. Much better looking!
• Label your pieces of equipment, and your chemicals too. It just makes sure that everyone knows what you mean.

Equipment list

ScienceOnline ::: Common lab equipment
Name	Photo	Symbol	Use
Beaker			A heat-proof glass container used for mixing and heating chemicals.
Test tube			A small, thin, glass container for mixing small amounts of chemicals. A boiling tube is a larger test tube that is designed for heating liquids.
Conical flask			A heat-proof glass container that is used instead of a beaker because it can be swirled better, and can also slow down loss by evaporation. Filter funnels sit well on top of these also.
Filter funnel			Used to pour liquids safely into small-mouthed containers, and to support filter paper when filtering a solution.
Measuring cylinder			A tall, thin container used to measure amounts of liquid accurately.
Evaporating dish			A heat-proof container designed to allow liquid to evaporate away more quickly, usually to leave behind a solid. Can also be called an evaporating basin.
Test tube rack			A stand designed to hold several test tubes so that they don't spill their contents.
Test tube holder			A device designed especially to hold test tubes while they are hot.
Tongs			A scissor-like device designed to hold hot objects. Be careful that you have a secure grip on your hot object, some tongs don't hold things as well as they should.
Stirring rod			A heat-proof glass rod used for stirring and mixing chemicals.
Spatula			A long, thin, flat piece of metal or plastic used to dish out powders and crystals.
Bunsen burner			A device used to heat things by burning gas in a controlled way..
Tripod			A metal stand with three legs used to hold things over a bunsen burner for heating.
Gauze mat			A mat made of wire mesh that sits on top of a tripod and stops smaller objects from falling through the middle of the tripod.
Retort stand and clamp			A stand made of a metal base plate and a tall, thin rod, used to support equipment off the ground. A boss head (windy bolt thing) and clamp (windy fork thing) can be attached at any level to hold the equipment secure.

Mix N Match game