Pasteur pipette
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A Pasteur pipette, teat pipette or dropper is a glass piece of lab equipment used to add liquids dropwise.
The term "dropper" and "Pasteur pipette" are used interchangeably, and while they're similar in construction and function, the term "dropper" also covers other types of droppers, like medical eye droppers, which lack a bulb, while most types of Pasteur pipettes always have bulb, even if separate. As such, there is some confusion over the use of both terms.
Contents
General
A dropper consists of a short glass pipette without markings glued to a plastic screw cap with a rubber bulb. The dropper generally rests in a bottle or vial, where the lid is screwed.
Types
Glass Pasteur pipettes
Thin glass tubes that get narrow at one end, forming a needle.
Plastic Pasteur pipettes
Also called transfer pipettes, they have their stems and bulbs in the form of a single piece made of plastic. They commonly come in 1, 2, 3, and 5 ml.
Availability
Droppers can be bought from many pharmacies or medical stores. They can also be found in electronic cigarette stores and soap making suppliers.
Lastly you can buy them online or from lab suppliers in bulk, quite cheaply.
DIY dropper
A simple Pasteur pipette with a rubber bulb can be used as dropper.
For most liquids, a drinking straw may be used as a dropper. Placing a finger on the top opening while the bottom end is under the surface of the liquid allows the straw to be lifted from the liquid while retaining the liquid inside the straw.
