Reagent Bottle, Wide Mouth

Quick Answer: A wide mouth reagent bottle is a laboratory storage bottle with a broad neck, used for solids such as powders, crystals, granules and pellets that are taken out with a spatula or scoop. The wide opening also makes the bottle easy to fill and to clean.

Specifications

Built Around the Spatula

Solid reagents cannot be poured accurately through a narrow neck, and tapping a bottle to shake out crystals wastes material and spreads dust. A wide mouth reagent bottle lets a spatula or scoop reach inside, so marble chips, copper(II) sulfate crystals, zinc granules or sodium chloride can be taken out in measured amounts while the rest stays undisturbed.

The title does not state the material. LabEquip lists a clear-glass version separately as the Reagent Bottle, Wide Mouth (Clear Glass), and this listing may cover other materials such as polypropylene, so confirm the material when ordering. Polypropylene is light, does not shatter when dropped and resists most aqueous acids and alkalis, which makes it a common choice for solids handled by students.

The drawback of a broad opening is exposure to air each time the bottle is opened. Hygroscopic solids such as sodium hydroxide pellets and anhydrous calcium chloride take up moisture quickly, so they should be scooped out promptly and the bottle closed straight away.

Applications

• Storing granular and crystalline salts for preparation and analysis practicals
• Keeping metal granules, turnings or marble chips for rates-of-reaction experiments
• Holding sodium hydroxide pellets or drying agents under a well-closed lid
• Carrying soil or rock samples back from fieldwork, when a plastic version is supplied

Care & Handling

• Use a clean, dry spatula for each reagent; a damp spatula starts caking inside the bottle.
• Wipe powder from the rim and neck before closing so the closure seats properly.
• If a plastic version is supplied, keep it away from heat sources and check compatibility before storing organic solvents or strong oxidisers in it.
• Break up caked solids gently with a glass rod rather than by knocking the bottle on the bench.

Why Choose LabEquip

Laboratory stores managers and chemistry teachers order wide-mouth bottles to decant bulk solids into smaller, labelled bench quantities. LabEquip carries them in the chemistry lab equipment range with bottles for liquids such as the Reagent Bottle, Narrow Mouth; send the material and sizes you need through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are solids kept in wide mouth bottles?

Solids have to be removed with a spatula or scoop, and a wide neck gives room to do that without spilling or tipping the bottle. It also makes it easier to see how much is left and to clean out residues.

Is plastic or glass better for a wide mouth reagent bottle?

Plastic such as polypropylene is lighter, will not shatter and suits most salts, acids and alkalis. Glass is preferred for organic solids and for substances such as iodine that can stain or pass into plastic.

How do I stop sodium hydroxide pellets from turning wet?

Sodium hydroxide absorbs water and carbon dioxide from air, so the pellets become damp and stick together. Open the bottle only briefly, close it firmly, and avoid storing it in a humid room. Glass stoppers should not be used on alkali containers.

Can I use the bottle for biological specimens?

A wide mouth bottle is convenient for small preserved specimens or field samples because they can be put in and taken out easily. Make sure the bottle material and closure are compatible with the preservative being used.

How should solid reagents be dispensed in class?

Weigh or measure portions from the stock bottle into labelled weighing boats or smaller containers for students, rather than passing the stock bottle around. This keeps the main supply clean and dry.

Why does the lid stick after a few weeks?

Fine powder caught in the neck, or crystals formed from a damp solid, bind the closure. Wiping the neck before closing prevents most sticking, and a stuck lid can usually be freed by standing the neck in warm water for a short time.

Last Updated: September 2026