A magnetic stirrer is an electronic instrument that uses a magnetic field to mix one or more solutes with a solvent in an automated way. This equipment has the ability to heat chemical solutions, it also minimizes the risk of a solution being altered, since generally when the solutions are stirred manually they tend to become contaminated.
This electronic device is commonly used in food manufacturing and chemical research, but you will also find it in research laboratories. They come in various sizes and models.
What is a laboratory magnetic stirrer for?
This equipment is used to mix liquids with each other or with powders, to produce solutions, fluid or viscous dispersions, as well as suspensions. This device is very useful in biology or chemistry laboratories, since these types of tools tend to be needed to carry out many mixtures.
Scientists prefer this type of equipment because they are silent, they do not break easily because they do not have moving parts that can break. They are also easy to clean thanks to their small size.
This device serves to reduce the contamination of the reagents, normally when using motorized stirrers these need to be lubricated and for this reason there is a risk of contamination. This is why this magnetic stirrer tends to be the favorite of scientists in any research field.
What is a heated stirrer?
This type of apparatus is usually referred to as a heated magnetic stirrer or stirring and heating plate. You can find it with similar names but its function is to shake and heat. And it is what you must take into account when acquiring or using equipment of this kind.
This option is ideal for heating certain samples that require a constant temperature. You also ensure that the mixed solution receives the exact heat required by the experiment. It is a more complete and ideal equipment for the laboratory since you can use both functions (shaking and heating) and you can use them simultaneously or independently.
Uses of a laboratory magnetic stirrers
As for the uses of the laboratory magnetic stirrer, you should know that they are usually used in chemistry and biology laboratories, to mix liquids or solutions. Depending on the model, you can stir viscous or low-viscosity solutions.
The magnetic stirrers that have a heating system are used for heating and this makes it more useful, because while the solutions are being made, they are heated simultaneously. You can decide if you use it only as a heating plate or as a stirrer, when they are manufactured in this way they are known as a heating plate with a magnetic stirrer and sometimes as a heated magnetic stirrer.
When using the magnetic shaker you must place the flask or beaker ready with the content of the solution that you are going to stir on the stirrer plate, then insert the magnetic bar into the container and then turn on the device, adjust the speed .
Starting with the slowest speed to increase it progressively you will get the result you want. You must control that the liquid does not spill in the process and when the stirring is finished, remember to return the device to its initial speed and turn off the equipment, finally remove the stirring bar from the container.
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