DLAB ECOSTIR magnetic stirrer

Quick Answer: DLAB ECOSTIR magnetic stirrer is an economy-line bench stirrer from DLAB that mixes liquids with a rotating stir bar; no heating is listed for it. The DLAB EcoStir magnetic stirrer suits routine mixing and student practicals in which stirring speed is kept the same or changed on purpose.

Stirring as a Variable in Practical Work

In the classic rate-of-dissolving practical, students time how long a fixed mass of salt or sugar takes to disappear in water. Stirring by hand with a glass rod is the weak point: one student stirs harder than the next, and the results scatter. Setting the EcoStir to one speed for every trial turns stirring into a controlled variable, and stepping the speed up in stages turns it into the independent variable of a new investigation.

The same reasoning applies whenever a solid meets a liquid, from an effervescent tablet dissolving to dye spreading out of a crystal. Stirring carries fresh liquid to the solid surface, so a stirrer that holds its setting from one run to the next makes the effect measurable instead of a source of scatter.

Eco in the model name places the unit in DLAB’s economy line for routine stirring. It has no heater, so warm solutions need a hotplate stirrer, and several samples at once are better served by a multi-position stirrer.

Classroom and Prep-Room Uses

• Rate-of-dissolving investigations with stirring speed as a controlled or independent variable
• Making up dilute acids, alkalis and salt solutions in the prep room
• Mixing food colouring into water to compare spreading with and without stirring
• Keeping a freshly formed precipitate suspended while a class observes it

Specifications

Everyday Care

• Note the speed setting used for a trial on the results sheet so the next group can repeat it.
• Use the same size of stir bar in every trial; a longer bar at the same setting moves the liquid faster.
• Wipe spilled salt solution off the top at once and let the unit dry before storing it.
• Keep stir bars in a labelled pot, apart from steel items they would pick up.

Why Choose LabEquip

Economy stirrers such as the EcoStir are bought in numbers for student benches, where several groups run the same practical at once. LabEquip lists it in General Lab Products together with glassware such as the borosilicate conical flask; for class sets, contact LabEquip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the EcoStir a heating stirrer?

No heating is listed for it; it stirs at room temperature. For practicals that need warm water or a set temperature, use a hotplate stirrer.

How can the EcoStir improve a dissolving-rate practical?

It stirs every trial in the same way, so differences in dissolving time come from the variable being tested, such as particle size or temperature, rather than from how hard each student stirred.

Does the stir bar size change the results?

Yes. At the same speed setting, a longer bar sweeps more liquid and mixes faster. Use one bar size throughout an investigation and record it in the method.

How do students record the speed if the dial has no numbers?

Mark the dial positions with tape or note the position used, and keep it for every repeat. Where exact speeds are needed, a stirrer with a speed display is the better tool.

Can the EcoStir mix a suspension such as chalk in water?

Yes, at a moderate speed. A light suspension stays evenly mixed while the bar turns, but heavy solids settle around the bar and can stall it, so keep the solid content low.

Can the stirrer be used in a fume cupboard?

Yes, for mixing at room temperature. Keep the power lead out of splashing range, and switch the stirrer off before adding a reagent that fumes, then restart slowly.

Last Updated: September 2026