Beakers have many uses, so it is good to know which use you are trying to replace.

For holding solutions that you will transfer out via pipette or syringe, a jam jar, disposable plastic cup, or a cut off water bottle works well.

Having the “beak” is nice when filling burettes or measuring cylinders, but the little plastic funnels that come with kerosene stoves work well too. You could also varnish a small metal funnel from the market.

You can also fill measuring cylinders or burettes crudely from a jar or any other bottle and then use a syringe to add the final few milliliters.

A big borosilicate (e.g. Pyrex brand) beaker is useful for water baths, but an aluminum pot is superior if you have many things to heat.

For warming a 25 test tube or two only, consider using the bottom of a small metal can. You can cut the bottom from a beverage can by repeatedly scoring it with a razor blade, or scissors, and then use it to hold a water bat. If you use a cut can, fold down the cut edge to prevent cut fingers.

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If you do purchase beakers, buy plastic ones. Plastic lab beakers withstand concentrated acids and most other forms of chemical attack and they do not break when dropped. The only exception to buying plastic is if you need beakers for heating on an open flame. Then they must be borosilicate (Pyrex) glass, but again, an aluminum pot will heat the water faster, be easier to handle, and again does not break if dropped.

If you have burettes, note that broken burettes can often be repaired – see Repairing Burettes. Second, if you buy burettes, buy plastic ones so they do not need to be repaired.

If burettes are not available, use 10 mL disposable plastic syringes with 0.2 mL gradations (e.g. NeoJect brand). Students can estimate between the lines to at least 0.05 mL. This is sufficiently precise. If more than 10 mL are required, the student can simply refill the syringe.

There is no need to buy these. A 2 mL syringe works better and costs very little. They are available at almost any pharmacy.

Flasks can generally be replaced with clean, used glass liquor bottles, available in most markets. You can also make arrangements with local bars to reserve empty cans and bottles for your school. When using these flasks for titrations, students must practice swirling enough that the solution remains well mixed. Small water bottles may also be used. Sometimes flasks are needed for dissolving salts to make solutions as their shape is particularly well suited for thorough mixing. But a half full plastic water bottle with a good cap can be shaken much more vigorously and will work as well if not better for most solutions. Plus, the solution is then already in a storage container. If you need to prepare a solution that requires heating, be creative. Starch solution, for example, can be prepared in an aluminum pot without trouble. 27 Liquor bottles also have caps for shaking and heat well (with the cap off!) in a water bath, especially if heated slowly.

Plastic funnels are available at the market. Metal funnels are usually less ex- pensive but need to be varnished for use with more reactive chemicals like acids. Glass funnels are entirely unnecessary. If you order funnels from a lab supply company you should buy plastic – plastic funnels both from the supply company and the markets are suitable for concentrated acids.