A graduated cylinder, also known as a measuring cylinder or mixing cylinder, is a common piece of laboratory equipment used in chemistry for measuring the volume of liquids. It is a long, slender vessel with marked lines that represent the amount of liquid being measured. Graduated cylinders are not intended for mixing, stirring, heating, or weighing. They are available in various sizes, ranging from 5 mL to over a liter, with some even capable of holding more than a liter.
The main uses of a graduated cylinder in chemistry are:
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Measuring liquid volumes: Graduated cylinders are primarily used for measuring the volumes of liquids. The tall, narrow shape of the cylinder increases measurement precision and accuracy compared to beakers or flasks. The continuous graduation allows them to measure a relatively wide range of different volumes.
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Measuring solid volumes using displacement: Graduated cylinders can also be used to measure the volumes of solid objects by displacement. The initial volume of the liquid in the cylinder is measured, and then the solid object is added. The final volume is measured, and the difference between the two volumes gives the volume of the solid object.
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Pouring and transferring liquids: Graduated cylinders have a spout that makes it easy to pour the measured liquid into other containers or apparatus. Mixing cylinders, which have ground glass joints instead of a spout, can be closed with a stopper or connected directly with other elements of a manifold.
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Reading the meniscus: A graduated cylinder is meant to be read with the surface of the liquid at eye level, where the center of the meniscus shows the most accurate measurement. The meniscus is the curved surface of a liquid in a narrow cylindrical container, and its shape can affect the accuracy of the volume measurement.
