Crucible tongs

Crucible tongs are scissors-like tools with a pair of attached arms that curve outward near the ends to form a rounded gripping area that allows users to safely grasp crucibles, flasks, evaporating dishes, or small beakers.^[1] They are made of durable metals—stainless steel, brass, or nickel, for example—that can withstand high temperatures.^[2]

Crucible tongs are used most often with crucibles, small ceramic or metal vessels used to heat chemicals to temperatures up to 565.56 degree Celsius.^[3]

As a crucible will be very hot when heating it in a furnace or a Bunsen burner, one cannot hold the crucible directly. Therefore, crucible tongs come to play a key role when burning, or doing anything with hot objects. Moreover, some of them also have a special characteristic. For instance, a locking version of crucible tongs can be locked with the edge of a crucible, allow users to be more comfortable and more confidence while moving a very hot crucible from place to place. Hence, they provide more safety for the users.^[4]

It is necessary to wear safety goggles, gloves, and proper shoes when using crucible tongs. The scorching objects in a crucible might be spilled off and cause damage to the holder's skin. Since crucible tongs work with the crucible, one must know the safety procedures of the crucible.

• Before using the crucible, make sure that it is dry
• Fill the crucible with sample chemicals to only 1/2 or 2/3, do not fill until it is full
• If the user used the crucible to fuse the glass, waiting for the crucible to cool down before cleaning it
• Squeezing the crucible or use some metal sticks to break the cooling glass out of the crucible
• Wash it until it is clean enough^[5]

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  Crucible Tongs with Crucible
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crucible tongs.

1. ^ Team, Glogster. "lab equipment crucible tongs: text, images, music, video | Glogster EDU - 21st century multimedia tool for educators, teachers and students". chem0222.edu.glogster.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
2. ^ "Laboratory Equipment > Non-Glassware (1 of3)". www.mreisley.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
3. ^ "Crucibles for Apparatus & Lab Application Use". www.hometrainingtools.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
4. ^ "What Are Crucible Tongs?". wiseGEEK. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
5. ^ "Cleaning Crucibles". www.esci.umn.edu. Retrieved 2016-03-10.