Test tube
A narrow cylindrical vessel, usually made of glass or plastic, used to hold, mix, or heat small quantities of substances.
Test tube reaction: A chemical reaction carried out in a test tube on a small scale. The vessel makes small reactions easy to observe, mix, and heat.
Borosilicate glass: A glass containing boron trioxide that resists thermal shock and many chemical attacks. Borosilicate is common in reusable laboratory test tubes because it tolerates heating.
Laboratory heating: The controlled application of heat to substances during laboratory procedures. Test tubes are commonly heated directly, but uneven heating can crack glass or cause splashing.
Culture dish: A shallow, lidded dish used to grow cells or microorganisms on a surface. Its broad surface favors surface growth, while a test tube confines a smaller volume.
Test tube baby: A colloquial term for a person conceived through in vitro fertilization. The phrase evokes fertilization outside the body, though embryos develop in specialized dishes, not test tubes.
Soda-lime glass: A common glass made chiefly from silica, soda, and lime. It is less resistant to sudden temperature changes than borosilicate glass.
Thermal shock: Damage caused when rapid temperature change creates stress within a material. Sudden heating or cooling can fracture a glass test tube.
Erlenmeyer flask: A conical laboratory flask with a narrow neck, used to mix, store, or heat liquids. Its wider body allows larger volumes and swirling with less risk of spilling.
Test tube culture: The growth of cells or microorganisms in a laboratory vessel under controlled conditions. Test tubes can hold small cultures for incubation and observation.
Polypropylene: A thermoplastic polymer used in containers, laboratory ware, and many consumer products. Plastic test tubes are often made from polypropylene for lightness and chemical resistance.