What is the Difference Between Beaker and Graduated Cylinder

Beaker and graduated cylinder are two important laboratory glassware that are important in chemistry. Both have cylindrical bodies and are made of borosilicate.
 
What is the difference between beaker and graduated cylinder? Graduated cylinders have markings along the side that are much more precise than those on a beaker.  Moreover, beakers help hold, mix, heat, and stir liquids, while graduated cylinders help measure with precision.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a Beaker  
      – Definition, Features, Uses
2. What is a Graduated Cylinder
      – Definition, Features, Uses
3. Similarities Between Beaker and Graduated Cylinder
      – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Beaker and Graduated Cylinder
      – Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: Beaker and Graduated Cylinder
      – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Key Terms

Beaker, Graduated Cylinder

What is a Beaker

A beaker is a cylindrical cup with a flat bottom. It does not have a handle like normal cups, but it has a spout. This is very helpful for pouring liquids and solutions. It is usually made of glass (borosilicate glass) and occasionally of metal or plastic. They are available in a wide range of sizes, from a few milliliters to several liters. One distinctive feature of beakers is that they do not typically have a graduated scale. While some beakers may have markings to measure volume, they are not very precise.

This special glass can withstand high temperatures and resist cracking from sudden temperature changes. Hence, they are used for heating liquids or conducting reactions involving temperature changes.

Some uses of beakers include stirring and mixing, holding solutions, dissolving, and heating liquids. Their open tops allow for easy stirring with stir rods or magnetic stirrers, and they are commonly used to dissolve solids in liquids. Beakers come in different sizes and shapes, which makes them suitable for holding chemicals (solutions and liquids) and dissolving solids in liquid solutions.

What is a Graduated Cylinder

Graduated cylinder is a long glass cylinder with a graduated scale imprinted on it. Each line on this scale corresponds to a specific volume, allowing for precise determination of the amount of liquid held within. It is made from glass or rarely plastic. It comes in a variety of sizes depending on the measurement requirement, i.e., either measuring a few milliliters or a few liters. Their accuracy, however, varies depending on the type. General-purpose cylinders provide a good estimate, while those marked with “TD, Ex” or “Class A” markings adhere to stricter standards and offer superior precision.

The meniscus, the curved surface of the liquid at the top, forms due to the surface tension of the liquid. To ensure an accurate reading, hold the cylinder at eye level and note the bottom of the meniscus where it intersects the scale. Furthermore, uses of graduating cylinders include preparing solutions, transferring liquids, and estimating volume by displacement.

Similarities Between Beaker and Graduated Cylinder

1. Both are typically made from borosilicate glass.
2. They have a cylindrical body.
3. Both are important tools in any laboratory setting, serving a variety of purposes.
4. Both can be used for handling liquids, including mixing, pouring, and transferring them.

Difference Between Beaker and Graduated Cylinder

Definition

• Beaker is a wide cylinder with a sprout while graduated cylinder is a tall and narrow cylinder with a sprout.

Function

• Beakers help hold, mix, heat, and stir liquids, whereas the graduated scale measures volumes of liquids accurately.

Accuracy

• The accuracy of beakers is low, whereas the accuracy of the measuring cylinders is high.

Marking

• There may be scale markings on the beaker, while a graduated cylinder has precise markings at regular intervals.

Conclusion

Beakers and graduated cylinders are both essential lab tools. Beakers help hold, mix, heat, and stir liquids, whereas the graduated scale measures volumes of liquids accurately. In addition, graduated cylinders have markings along the side that are much more precise than those on a beaker.  This is the main difference between beaker and graduated cylinder.

FAQ: Beaker and Graduated Cylinder

1. Which is more accurate, a 100 mL beaker or a 25 mL graduated cylinder?

The 25 mL graduated cylinder is more accurate for measuring liquids than a 100 mL beaker. This is because graduated cylinders have markings along their side that indicate volume, which makes it easier to measure.

2. What is more accurate than a graduated cylinder?

Graduated cylinders are great for everyday lab work and offer good accuracy, but there are even more precise tools available for specific needs. More accurate measurements could be obtained by micropipette.

3. What are the advantages of using a beaker?

Beakers come in all shapes and sizes, from holding a few milliliters to several liters. They are typically made from borosilicate glass, which is resistant to most chemicals. Borosilicate glass can also withstand high temperatures. This means that beakers can be used to heat liquids without cracking.

4. Why do beakers lack accuracy?

Beakers typically have markings etched on the side to indicate volume, but these markings are widely spaced compared to a graduated cylinder. Beakers have a wider, cylindrical shape compared to graduated cylinders. This wider form makes it harder to read the meniscus, the curved surface of the liquid at the top where it meets the glass.

Reference:

1. “What are Beakers?” R&D World.
2. “Graduated Cylinder.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Glassware- Beaker” By Rohit Kumar Sengupta – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Different types of graduated cylinder- 10ml, 25ml, 50ml and 100 ml graduated cylinder” By Praphai Donphaimueang – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia