Reagent Bottle, Narrow Mouth (Clear Glass)

Quick Answer: A clear glass narrow mouth reagent bottle is a transparent glass bottle with a small neck, used to store liquid reagents when the user needs to see the contents. The clear body shows the liquid level, its colour and any cloudiness or sediment without opening the bottle.

What Clear Glass Shows That Other Bottles Hide

Many reagents announce their own deterioration. Iron(II) sulfate solution turns from pale green to yellow-brown as it oxidises, starch indicator becomes cloudy or grows mould, and a solution that has been contaminated often shows a haze or sediment. In a clear glass narrow mouth reagent bottle these changes are visible from the shelf, so a spoiled reagent can be replaced before it gives a false test result in class.

The narrow neck keeps the pouring stream controlled and cuts evaporation, and glass reagent bottles of this style are usually closed with a stopper; the stopper type for this listing should be confirmed. Glass is also the natural container for most organic solvents, which can soften, or pass slowly through, some plastics.

The trade-off is light. Clear glass gives no protection from sunlight or strong room light, so light-sensitive solutions belong in amber or opaque alternatives. LabEquip also lists a narrow mouth reagent bottle without a stated material, which can be discussed if amber or plastic bottles are needed.

Care & Handling

• Keep clear bottles out of direct sunlight; heat and light speed up the decomposition of many solutions even when they are not classed as light-sensitive.
• Let hot solutions cool before pouring them in, since a sudden temperature change can crack thick bottle glass.
• Clean with warm water and detergent using a bottle brush, rinse with distilled water and dry upside down in a rack.
• Inspect the neck and stopper for chips before each use.

Specifications

Applications

• Indicator solutions such as phenolphthalein and methyl orange, where the colour itself confirms the label
• Reagents that show spoilage visibly, such as iron(II) sulfate and starch solutions
• Organic solvents like ethanol and propanone in small working quantities
• Practical examination benches where students must recognise reagents by appearance

Why Choose LabEquip

Chemistry teachers and laboratory assistants choose clear bottles for reagents they need to watch, from indicators to freshly made test solutions. The bottle sits in LabEquip’s chemistry apparatus range; quantities and stopper preferences can be sent through the LabEquip contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use clear glass rather than amber glass?

Clear glass lets you check the level, colour and clarity of a reagent without opening the bottle, which helps you spot contamination or decomposition. Amber glass is chosen only when a reagent is damaged by light.

Which solutions should not go in a clear bottle?

Light-sensitive reagents such as silver nitrate, potassium permanganate, iodine in potassium iodide and hydrogen peroxide are better stored in amber glass. If only clear bottles are available, keep them in a closed cupboard.

Can I store sodium hydroxide solution in this bottle?

It can be kept in glass for ordinary teaching periods, but a glass stopper will stick. Use a rubber or plastic stopper, and for long-term storage of strong alkali a plastic bottle is often preferred because alkali slowly etches glass.

How can I tell if a stored reagent has gone off?

Look for a colour change, cloudiness, sediment, crystals around the neck or mould growth. Iron(II) salts turning yellow-brown and starch solution turning cloudy are two common examples in school stores.

Is the bottle suitable for organic solvents?

Glass is generally resistant to common solvents such as ethanol, propanone and hexane, which is why it is preferred over plastic for them. Keep flammable solvents in small quantities and store them in a suitable cabinet away from heat.

How should a clear glass bottle be cleaned between reagents?

Empty it, rinse with tap water, wash with warm laboratory detergent and a bottle brush, then rinse several times with distilled water. Dry it inverted and remove every trace of the old label before relabelling.

Last Updated: September 2026