graduated cylinder

Get tips to help yous measure out the volume of a liquid with a graduated cylinder.

Graduated cylinders are long, slender vessels used for measuring the volumes of liquids. They are not intended for mixing, stirring, heating, or weighing. Graduated cylinders normally range in size from 5 mL to 500 mL. Some can even concur volumes of more than a liter.

1. Select a graduated cylinder with markings that will non be obscured by the substance existence measured.

A graduated cylinder with blue numbers.
Graduated cylinder measuring book of liquid.

two. Select a graduated cylinder made from a material that is advisable for the substance beingness measured.

Plastic graduated cylinder
Graduated cylinder with vivid yellow background.

See specifications charts and PDF.

3. Select the advisable-size graduated cylinder. The volume to exist measured should fall between the everyman and highest numbered graduations on the cylinder.

Cylinder is too small.
Cylinder is likewise big.

four. Determine the value of the graduations on the cylinder.

  • Locate 2 consecutive labeled graduations on the cylinder.
Case: ten mL and 15 mL
  • Decide the value betwixt the labeled graduations by subtracting the 2 values.

15 mL — ten mL = 5 mL

  • Count the number of spaces between the 2 graduations. Think that infinite equals volume.

10 spaces

  • Divide the value between the graduations by the number of spaces.

five mL/10 spaces = 0.5 mL per space

  • The answer tells you the value between each marked graduation on the cylinder.

A graduation is 0.5 mL.

  • Consummate this process for every graduated cylinder you use.

5. Read the graduated cylinder.

  • Put the graduated cylinder on a flat, level surface.
  • Expect at the meniscus at eye level to avert parallax.
Eye level = 75 mL
Looking from above = 76 mL
Looking from below = 74 mL
  • Read the value from the bottom of the meniscus.
Meniscus reading 75 mL
  • Gauge the final decimal identify by dividing the volume between graduations into smaller segments. Easily recognizable segments are 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 of a graduation.

The meniscus is at 75 mL, halfway betwixt 74 mL and 76 mL.

  • Record the book and appropriate units.

75 mL

6. Clean the graduated cylinders afterwards every utilise.

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