Test tube holder
A test tube holder is a clamp with a handle, a bit like a clothes peg on a stick.
What is it for?
It lets you hold a test tube over a flame without burning your fingers.
How to use it
Clip it near the top of the tube and keep your hand at the far end of the handle.
🥽 Safety tip: Move the tube gently in and out of the flame so it heats evenly and the liquid does not spurt out.
Fun fact from Fizzy: Many holders are made of wood, because wood does not carry heat to your hand as quickly as metal does.
Heating a test tube safely
Hold the tube at a slant, not straight up, and heat it near the top of the liquid first rather than at the very bottom. Keep it moving, so no single spot gets too hot. If the liquid starts to bubble hard, take it out of the flame for a moment.
Always point the open end away from people, including yourself, in case the liquid spits out.
Where you would see one
Test tube holders are used in school labs whenever small amounts are heated. Metal versions with insulated handles are also common. For larger glassware, scientists use bigger clamps, or tongs that grip a hot beaker or crucible.