Spatula
A lab spatula is a small, flat metal scoop for moving powders and crystals.
What is it for?
It lets you take a little solid out of a jar without touching it with your hands.
How to use it
Scoop up a small amount, tap it gently over your container, and wipe the spatula clean before using it again.
🥽 Safety tip: Use a clean spatula for every chemical, and put the lid back on each jar straight away.
Fun fact from Fizzy: The word spatula comes from a Latin word for a small, flat blade.
A closer look
Lab spatulas are usually made of stainless steel, which does not rust and is easy to clean. Many have a flat end for scraping and a curved, scoop-shaped end for picking up a little powder.
Scientists often use a spatula to scoop a solid onto a dish on the electronic balance, adding a tiny bit at a time until the mass is just right.
Where you would see one
Spatulas are used in nearly every lab, and in pharmacies when medicines are made by hand. The spatula in your kitchen, used for flipping pancakes, gets its name from the same Latin word.