How to Create a Home Test Lab
- 1). Choose a spot in your home to serve as your lab location. It must have an electrical outlet nearby, a water and drainage source, a large, steady work surface and it must be well ventilated. You also need space nearby for storage of chemicals, some of them potentially hazardous.
- 2). Purchase glassware. Glassware is very important for a home test lab. Beakers, test tubes, cylinders, pipettes, stirring rods and flasks are all necessary for various experiments. The amount you need varies widely depending on how many and what type of experiments you plan to run.
- 3). Purchase glassware accessories such as crucibles, pH strips, test tube pincers, a test tube stand and rubber stoppers. Crucibles are small bowls where small amounts of liquids or powders can be easily combined. They are available at most science or hobby stores.
- 4). Purchase a heat source. Many experiments require a heat source in order to get results. A small alcohol lamp, butane burner or Bunsen burner are all acceptable.
- 5). Designate a spot for a fire extinguisher. Since you are using a heat source, fire is always a possibility. Keep one nearby and make sure you read the directions and understand how to use it before you begin conducting experiments. If a fire has already started, you don't want to waste time learning how to use it as the fire gets bigger and more dangerous.
- 6). Purchase additional safety equipment such as goggles or safety glasses to protect your eyes and a fire blanket in case a person's clothes catch on fire.
Source...