In a laboratory experiment, a student needs to transfer 10.0 mL of a concentrated sulfuric acid solution into a reaction flask. Which piece of apparatus is most appropriate for this task?

Correct answer

A. A 10 mL graduated cylinder

Principle or equation

For transferring a specific volume of a corrosive liquid like concentrated sulfuric acid, a graduated cylinder is commonly used because it allows measurement and pouring, and it is less prone to contamination. A volumetric pipette is more accurate but requires suction and careful handling; it is not ideal for corrosive liquids due to risk. A beaker is not accurate. A burette is for dispensing variable volumes, not for transferring a fixed volume.

Why this answer is correct

A graduated cylinder is appropriate for measuring and transferring 10.0 mL of concentrated acid. Volumetric pipettes are more accurate but are not typically used for concentrated acids because they require suction and can be dangerous. A burette is for titrations, not for transferring a fixed volume. A beaker is not accurate enough.

Example

To measure 10.0 mL of concentrated HCl, one would pour it into a 10 mL graduated cylinder and then pour it into the reaction vessel.