Eye dropper

{{expand section|date=June 2017}}

{{expand section|date=June 2017}}

The two types of glass that are usually found in the laboratory and in the Pasteur pipette are [[borosilicate glass]] and [[soda–lime glass]]. Borosilicate glass is a widely used glass for laboratory apparatus, as it can withstand chemicals and temperatures used in most laboratories. Borosilicate glass is also more economical since the glass can be fabricated easily compared to other types. Soda lime glass, although not as chemically resistant as borosilicate glass, are suitable as a material for inexpensive apparatus such as the Pasteur pipette.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.udel.edu/chem/GlassShop/PhysicalProperties.htm|title=Physical Properties|website=www1.udel.edu|access-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205135450/http://www1.udel.edu/chem/GlassShop/PhysicalProperties.htm|archive-date=5 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The two types of glass that are usually found in the laboratory and in the Pasteur pipette are [[borosilicate glass]] and [[soda–lime glass]]. Borosilicate glass is a widely used glass for laboratory apparatus, as it can withstand chemicals and temperatures used in most laboratories. Borosilicate glass is also more economical since the glass can be fabricated easily compared to other types. Soda lime glass, although not as chemically resistant as borosilicate glass, are suitable as a material for inexpensive apparatus such as the Pasteur pipette.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.udel.edu/chem/GlassShop/PhysicalProperties.htm|title=Physical Properties|website=www1.udel.edu|access-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205135450/http://www1.udel.edu/chem/GlassShop/PhysicalProperties.htm|archive-date=5 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Glass pasteur pipettes can be used to make spotters for [[Thin-layer chromatography|thin layer chromatography]] after pulling it over a flame, though it may take some practice.

Glass pipettes can be used to make spotters for [[Thin-layer chromatography|thin layer chromatography]] after pulling it over a flame, though it may take some practice.

===Plastic Pasteur pipette===

===Plastic Pasteur pipette===

A plastic dropper is relatively inexpensive and disposable, so they are often used to avoid cross-contamination. In a solution containing cells and/or protein, it reduces the loss of cell and/or protein that binds to glass. Some plastic pipettes include a long flexible tube that can be bent for drawing solution from small volume tubes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.argos-tech.com/plastic-pasteur-pipettes_2.html|title=Plastic Serological Pipettes|date=2017|website=Argos Technologies}}</ref>

A plastic dropper is relatively inexpensive and disposable, so they are often used to avoid cross-contamination. In a solution containing cells and/or protein, it reduces the loss of cell and/or protein that binds to glass. Some plastic pipettes include a long flexible tube that can be bent for drawing solution from small volume tubes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.argos-tech.com/plastic-pasteur-pipettes_2.html|title=Plastic Serological Pipettes|date=2017|website=Argos Technologies}}</ref>

Plastic Pasteur pipettes are often used in [[biology]] where most media are aqueous and solvent resistance is not important. (Most [[organic solvents]], such as [[hexane]] and [[acetone]] cannot be used in plastic Pasteur pipettes as the solvent can dissolve the plastic.) The pipettes are also hard to wash and are usually discarded with other [[biohazard]] waste after one use.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite book|title=Essentials of Clinical Laboratory Science|url=https://archive.org/details/essentialsclinic00ridl|url-access=limited|last=Ridley|first=John|publisher=Cengage Learning|year=2010|isbn=9781435448148|pages=[https://archive.org/details/essentialsclinic00ridl/page/n232 199]}}</ref>

Plastic Pasteur pipettes are often used in [[biology]] where most media are aqueous and solvent resistance is not important. (Most [[organic solvents]], such as [[hexane]] and [[acetone]] cannot be used in plastic Pasteur pipettes as the solvent can dissolve the plastic.) The pipettes are also hard to wash and are usually discarded with other [[biohazard]] waste after one use.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite book|title=Essentials of Clinical Laboratory Science|url=https://archive.org/details/essentialsclinic00ridl|url-access=limited|last=Ridley|first=John|publisher=Cengage Learning|year=2010|isbn=9781435448148|pages=[https://archive.org/details/essentialsclinic00ridl/page/n232 199]}}</ref>

Plastic bulb pipettes are generally not precise enough to be used for exact measurements, whereas their glass counterparts can be extremely precise.<ref name=”:0″ />

Plastic bulb pipettes are generally not precise enough to be used for exact measurements, whereas their glass counterparts can be extremely precise.<ref name=”:0″ />