Beakers are general-purpose items in organic labs and are used for which of the following?

• A. Distillation Receiving Containers and to heat solvent for crystallizations
• B. Measuring Volumes Only
• C. Filtration Only
• D. Sterilization Only

Answer: (A)

Beakers are versatile, general-use vessels in the lab. Their wide mouth and flat bottom make them easy to heat on a hot plate and to stir or dissolve solids, which suits tasks like heating a solvent for crystallization. They also work as simple receiving containers during distillation, since you can collect the condensate in a convenient, open vessel without needing specialized equipment.

They aren’t ideal for precise volume measurements, which is why they aren’t used for accurate quantification. Filtration relies on a funnel, filter paper, or a membrane setup, not the beaker itself. Sterilization isn’t a defining function of a beaker, though glassware can be sterilized if needed; it’s not what they’re primarily designed for.