A crucible is a ceramic container capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, whilst the cover is designed to prevent heat escaping from the crucible itself. Despite traditionally being made from clay, modern crucibles come in a range of material forms, including graphite, platinum and other inert heat-resistant metals. Basically, these containers can be made from pretty much any material that's capable of withstanding high temperatures for a prolonged period of time.
Crucibles are used for a range of purposes, and are particularly common amongst chemists for the chemical analysis of various substances. They are typically found in laboratories where various chemical compounds are heated, but can also be used to determine the ash content of burnable samples such as coal and wood. In general, reaction mixtures are heated in crucibles and purpose-built custom tongs must be used to handle the scorching hot materials contained in them. They are often considered dangerous because of their ability to cause fatal burns, and so it's of vital importance that they are used with great care and caution at all times, preferably under the supervision of a trained scientist.
Tracking the origins of the crucible and cover takes us back in time to the sixth or fifth millennium BC (Before Christ). At this point in time, crucibles were mainly used in Iran and other parts of the Eastern World in copper smelting and related processes. The use of the crucible and cover has changed quite dramatically over hundreds and thousands of years, with the Romans using the two objects for alloy production and the people of the Medieval era using them to smelt and melt other copper alloys such as lead.
Crucibles are used for a range of purposes, and are particularly common amongst chemists for the chemical analysis of various substances. They are typically found in laboratories where various chemical compounds are heated, but can also be used to determine the ash content of burnable samples such as coal and wood. In general, reaction mixtures are heated in crucibles and purpose-built custom tongs must be used to handle the scorching hot materials contained in them. They are often considered dangerous because of their ability to cause fatal burns, and so it's of vital importance that they are used with great care and caution at all times, preferably under the supervision of a trained scientist.
Tracking the origins of the crucible and cover takes us back in time to the sixth or fifth millennium BC (Before Christ). At this point in time, crucibles were mainly used in Iran and other parts of the Eastern World in copper smelting and related processes. The use of the crucible and cover has changed quite dramatically over hundreds and thousands of years, with the Romans using the two objects for alloy production and the people of the Medieval era using them to smelt and melt other copper alloys such as lead.
