Flask facts for kids

An Erlenmeyer flask is a common type of flask.

A flask is a special kind of container usually made from glass. You'll often see them in science labs! They are important tools for scientists and students.

Flasks come in many sizes. Their size tells you how much liquid they can hold, which is called their volume. This is measured using metric units like litres (L) or millilitres (mL).

Even though they come in different shapes, most flasks have a wide bottom part to hold liquids. They also have a narrower neck with an opening at the top. This opening is where you pour things in or out. Some flasks even have more than one neck!

What are Flasks Used For?

Flasks are used to hold different substances, like liquids or powders. They are usually made of strong glass or a special type of glass called borosilicate glass (which you might know as Pyrex). This is important because many chemicals can be strong or react easily. Using special glass makes sure the chemicals don't damage the flask itself.

Scientists use flasks for many tasks, such as:

• Making and storing solutions (when you mix something into a liquid).
• Measuring chemicals carefully.
• Holding chemical reactions, like when liquids are boiling or when a new solid forms in a liquid (this is called precipitation).
• Doing chemical tests to find out what's in a substance.

Flasks can also be used to heat substances safely.

Different Kinds of Flasks

There are many different types of flasks, and each one has a special shape for a specific job. The most common types you might see are:

• Erlenmeyer flask
• Florence flask
• Volumetric flask
• Büchner flask
• Fernbach flask

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  Round-bottom flask — a flask with a round body and one or more necks.

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  Retort — a round flask with a long neck that points downwards.

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  Florence flask — a flask with a round body and one longer neck.

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  Büchner flask or sidearm flask — a flask with thick walls and a short tube on the side of its neck for connecting a hose.

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  Volumetric flask — a flask used for measuring very precise volumes of liquids. It has a pear-shaped body and a long neck with a line that marks the exact volume it holds.

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  Dewar flask — a special flask used to keep things hot or cold by creating a vacuum inside its walls.

See also

In Spanish: Matraz para niños