Magnetic Stirrers
Magnetic stirrers are essential pieces of laboratory equipment for mixing liquids or solutions. Magnetic stirrers typically feature a smooth, flat surface, often made of materials like ceramic, steel or aluminum, upon which vessels containing liquids or solutions can be placed. Underneath this surface lies a rotating magnet, usually powered by an electric motor. When a magnetic stirring bar is placed within the liquid in the vessel, the rotating magnet creates a magnetic field that causes the stirring bar to rotate, thereby agitating the liquid and promoting mixing.
Magnetic stirrers are widely used in labs for stirring solutions during various chemical reactions. They are particularly useful for reactions requiring prolonged or continuous stirring, such as polymerization, crystallization, and acid-base titrations. In analytical laboratories, magnetic stirrers are employed for preparing homogeneous mixtures and solutions required for analytical techniques such as spectroscopy, chromatography, and sample dilutions. Magnetic stirrers are utilized in biological and biochemical laboratories for mixing cell cultures, protein solutions, enzyme assays, and other biological samples. They provide gentle agitation without causing damage to delicate biomolecules. Magnetic stirrers are utilized in environmental laboratories for sample preparation and testing in water and soil analysis. They are used for mixing samples with reagents and for preparing standard solutions required for testing various pollutants and contaminants. They are also commonly used in industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to food and beverage production.