Funnel
A funnel is a cone with a narrow tube at the bottom.
What is it for?
It helps you pour liquids or powders into narrow containers without spilling. With a paper filter inside, it can also separate bits of solid from a liquid.
How to use it
Rest it in the neck of the container and pour slowly, so the liquid does not overflow.
🥽 Safety tip: Lift the funnel a tiny bit as you pour, so air can escape and the liquid does not bubble back up.
Fun fact from Fizzy: Filtering muddy water through paper takes out the mud, but it does not make the water safe to drink.
Filtering with a funnel
To filter, you fold a circle of filter paper into a cone and sit it inside the funnel. The liquid soaks through the tiny holes in the paper, but bits of solid, like sand, are too big and get left behind.
The liquid that comes through is called the filtrate, and the solid left on the paper is called the residue. This is one of the simplest ways to separate a mixture.
Where you would see one
Lab funnels are made of glass or plastic. Some have a short stem for powders and some a long stem for liquids. You probably have a funnel in your kitchen too, for filling bottles without spilling.