Conical flask, narrow neck

Overview

The narrow neck conical flask, also known as an Erlenmeyer flask, is a fundamental piece of laboratory equipment designed for mixing, heating, titrating, and storing liquids. Its characteristic conical body with a flat base and a narrow, cylindrical neck provides both stability on the bench and effective control over the contents. The sloping sides allow liquids to be swirled without spilling, while the narrow neck reduces evaporation and makes the flask easier to seal with a stopper or cotton plug.

Manufactured from borosilicate glass, this flask offers excellent thermal and chemical durability, making it suitable for a wide range of routine and demanding laboratory procedures. It forms part of a broader range of glassware used across analytical, educational, and industrial settings.

Design and Construction

The body of the flask is wider than the neck, a geometry that supports efficient swirling and reduces the risk of splashing during mixing or titration. The neck diameter varies according to capacity and is consistently narrower than the body, helping to limit liquid loss through evaporation. The height of each flask is proportional to its capacity and is designed to keep the vessel stable when standing on a flat surface.

• Material: Borosilicate glass
• Capacity: Available in various sizes, typically ranging from 50 ml to 2000 ml
• Neck diameter: Varies according to capacity, typically narrower than the body
• Height: Proportional to the capacity, designed for stability
• Temperature resistance: Up to 500°C
• Chemical resistance: High resistance to acids, alkalis, and organic solvents
• Autoclavable: Yes, suitable for sterilization in an autoclave

Performance and Compatibility

The borosilicate construction withstands temperatures up to 500°C and resists thermal stress, allowing the flask to be heated directly or used with hot liquids within its rated limits. Its high resistance to acids, alkalis, and organic solvents makes it appropriate for chemical reactions, sample preparation, and reagent handling. Because the flask is autoclavable, it can be sterilized for microbiological and cell culture applications. The same dependable Borosilicate 3.3 glass qualities found in beakers and measuring cylinders apply here, ensuring consistent behaviour across complementary glassware.

Typical Applications

Narrow neck conical flasks are widely used in analytical and educational laboratories for procedures where controlled mixing and reduced evaporation are important.

• Titrations, where the narrow neck and swirling action support precise endpoint determination
• Mixing and heating of solutions and reagents
• Preparation and short-term storage of liquids with a stopper or plug
• Microbiological culture work, given the autoclavable construction
• General sample handling across the available 50 ml to 2000 ml range

With its robust borosilicate body, broad chemical compatibility, and stable conical form, this flask is a versatile choice for laboratories requiring reliable, reusable glassware suited to everyday and specialised tasks.