What is the Difference Between Burette and Pipette?

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A burette and a pipette are both laboratory instruments used for precise measurement and delivery of liquids, but they serve different purposes and have distinct features:

Burette:

  • Used to deliver a chemical solution with a known concentration into a flask.
  • Designed to deliver a variable amount of liquid that can be quantified.
  • Has a tap at the bottom and a stopcock at the bottom to control the flow of liquid.
  • Typically used for titration, where the volume of liquid required is not known in advance.
  • Requires a stand to be used properly.

Pipette:

  • Used to measure the quantity of an analyte, the chemical substrate whose concentration is to be determined.
  • Used to accurately and precisely transfer volumes of liquid in the microliter range.
  • Has a bulge in the middle and a dropper-like system to release the liquid.
  • More accurate in releasing liquid in smaller quantities than burettes.
  • Often used in serial dilutions or transferring a set amount of liquid.

In summary, burettes are used for delivering a known concentration of a chemical solution and are often used in titration, while pipettes are used for accurately measuring and transferring small volumes of liquid.

Comparative Table: Burette vs Pipette

A burette and a pipette are both laboratory instruments used for precise measurement of liquids, but they serve different purposes and have distinct features. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two:

Feature Burette Pipette
Purpose Used in titration processes for quantitative analysis Used to accurately and precisely transfer volumes of liquid in the microliter range
Capacity Larger, with a higher capacity of liquid to dispense Smaller, with a lower capacity of liquid to dispense
Accuracy Less accurate in releasing small volumes compared to pipettes More accurate in releasing small volumes
Measurement Can measure any volume of the solution Can only measure predefined volumes of solution
Application Commonly used in titration experiments Used in various laboratory procedures