Droppers and Pipettes are very common in life, and they were often used in experiments when we were students. But do you know their form, use, or how to choose them correctly? This article will tell you more. Whether you are a lab operator or an expert in the beauty industry, this article will greatly help you.
Dropper And Pipettes Definition
The dropper is generally made of glass, the top is a ball latex head, and the bottom is a ball opening, Squeeze only once when you use it. It is used in the essence bottle and foundation bottle in the beauty industry, to extract the essence or emulsion or foundation.
The pipette is also a long tube made of glass, the top is also spherical latex, the bottom of the glass is needle-shaped, and the glass rod body has a scale. It is generally used for extracting liquids that require accurate extraction measurement and is mostly used in laboratories.
Types Of Droppers And Pipettes / Design Of Dropper And Pipettes
Dropper：
Glass Droppers： A dropper made of glass.
Plastic Droppers： A plastic dropper typically used for single-time use.
Pipettes：
Volumetric Pipette： Used for precise distribution of a specific volume of liquid.
Bulb Pipette： Generally used for dispensing larger volumes of liquid.
The Purpose/Functionality Of The Dropper And Pipette
Dropper：
Used for liquid extraction where precise measurement is not needed.
Pipettes：
Used for transferring and precisely measuring liquids.
Selecting The Right Dropper Or Pipettes
Dropper head selection: The size of the latex head determines the amount dispensed per squeeze. A larger head dispenses more liquid once, while a smaller one dispenses less. Latex heads are available in various sizes for your selection.
Dropper length selection: Bottles of different capacities require glass droppers of various lengths. If the dropper is too long, it may not screw onto the bottle or secure it tightly, potentially causing the glass tube to break. If the dropper is longer, the liquid inside the bottle may be well-spent because it cannot reach the bottom, thus preventing complete usage.
Dropper ball shape selection: The bottom of the dropper ball can be straight, bent, or conical. Each shape serves a different purpose. Straight balls are suitable for precise, fixed-volume measurements. Bent balls improve upon straight balls by allowing access to more liquid at the bottom. Conical balls are used for precise milliliter measurements when accuracy is required.
Scientific Uses
- When using it, you need to first hold the latex tip of the dropper with your hand, ensuring there is no squeezing. Then, place the glass part of the dropper into the container from which you want to extract the liquid.
- Once you confirm that the lower bulb of the dropper is immersed in the liquid, press the dropper with your finger and then release it to draw up the liquid into the glass dropper. Please be careful not to invert or shake the dropper vertically to prevent liquid from flowing back.
- When using a regular dropper, you can either drop the needed liquid into your palm or place it directly into the container where you intend to use it. When using a transfer pipette, put it into the beaker where you’ll need to use it next. In both cases, be careful not to let the bottom bulb touch the bottom or sides of the container to prevent contamination.
Applications in Different Industries
Droppers, such as serums and liquid foundations, are often used in the skincare and cosmetics industry where precise measurement is not required. They are typically used in conjunction with small glass bottles or plastic bottles.
Pipettes are most commonly used in laboratories where precise measurements are needed. They are used for experiments requiring precise ratios or quantitative analysis.
FAQ
1. What is the main difference between a dropper and a pipette?
Droppers are short and most do not have graduations; Pipettes are longer and all have graduations.
2. Can you reuse glass droppers and pipettes safely?
Yes, you can. You need to thoroughly clean and disinfect it before use.
3. Should you take any safety precautions when using a pipette?
1. When inserting the pipette into the latex tip at the top, please be careful as broken glass could harm your hands.
2. When using the pipette, please do not fill it with liquid. Otherwise, removing the latex tip may cause liquid leakage, which could affect your body if the liquid is harmful.
Surm Bottle – Source： Oulete
Glass Dropper Bottle – Source： Oulete
Foundation Bottle – Source： Oulete