Quick Answer: The Measuring Cylinder, Pentagonal, PP is a polypropylene graduated cylinder: a tall plastic measuring tube with a volume scale, standing on a five-sided (pentagonal) foot, used to measure liquid volumes in teaching, field and routine lab work.
Pentagonal PP Measuring Cylinder Compared with Glass
A measuring cylinder is filled to a graduation line and read at the liquid surface with the eye level with the scale. This version is moulded from polypropylene (PP) and stands on a pentagonal foot. The five-sided base gives a broader footprint than the column itself, and its flat edges stop the cylinder rolling across the bench if it is knocked over, which is how many glass cylinders end up broken.
Against a borosilicate glass measuring cylinder, PP is far less likely to break in normal handling and is lighter, which suits student benches, field kits and wash-room use. The trade-offs are that polypropylene is translucent rather than glass-clear, and plastic cylinders are intended for routine measurement rather than analytical volumetric work. When an exactly known volume is needed, a volumetric flask or pipette is the right tool; for rough measures that are poured straight out, a conical measure is quicker.
Polypropylene is not readily wetted by water, so the meniscus in a PP cylinder is flatter than in glass and liquid drains cleanly from the walls. The material also resists most aqueous acids, alkalis and salt solutions at room temperature, which makes the cylinder practical for measuring dilute reagents and buffers.
Applications
- Measuring water and reagent volumes in school and college practicals where glass breakage is a concern.
- Making up approximate volumes of dilute acids, alkalis and buffer solutions.
- Finding the volume of an irregular solid by water displacement in density experiments.
- Measuring sample or rinse volumes in field and water-testing kits.
Specifications
| Type | Measuring cylinder (graduated cylinder) |
| Material | Polypropylene (PP), translucent |
| Base | Pentagonal (five-sided) foot |
| Scale | Volume graduations along the body; capacity and graduation interval to be confirmed at enquiry |
| Heat | PP labware is generally autoclavable at 121 °C; not for direct heating |
| Chemical behaviour | PP generally resists aqueous acids, alkalis and salts; strong oxidisers and aromatic or chlorinated solvents attack it |
Care & Handling
- Wash with a mild detergent and a soft brush; scouring powders scratch the scale and cloud the plastic.
- Keep strong oxidisers such as concentrated nitric acid and chromic acid cleaning mixtures out of the cylinder.
- Never heat the cylinder on a burner or hot plate. If it is autoclaved, stand it upright and empty during the cycle so the column does not bend while warm.
- Drain and dry it mouth-down, and handle it gently when cold, since polypropylene becomes more brittle at low temperatures.
Why Choose LabEquip
Schools and training centres that want break-resistant volume measurement at student benches are the usual buyers of this pentagonal PP cylinder, often alongside glass cylinders kept for demonstrations. For a borosilicate option compare the glass Measuring Cylinder 50 ml, or see the plastic conical measure for quick pouring. The wider Lab Glassware category lists related labware, and you can contact LabEquip with the capacities and quantities you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a polypropylene graduated cylinder as accurate as a glass one?
For routine measurement it serves the same purpose, but glass cylinders are usually preferred where a tighter volume tolerance and a clear view of the liquid surface matter. Neither replaces a volumetric flask or pipette when an exact volume is required.
Why does this measuring cylinder have a pentagonal base?
The five-sided foot gives a broad, stable footprint and flat edges, so the cylinder is less likely to tip over and will not roll far if it does. That reduces spills and breakage on crowded benches.
Can I autoclave the PP measuring cylinder?
Polypropylene labware is generally autoclavable at 121 °C, but check the rating of this cylinder first. Autoclave it upright and empty, and let it cool before use; repeated cycles can gradually reduce the clarity of the plastic.
How do I read the volume correctly in a plastic cylinder?
Stand the cylinder on a level surface and bring your eye level with the liquid. Water forms a flatter meniscus in polypropylene than in glass, so read where the liquid surface meets the scale, looking straight on rather than from above or below.
Which chemicals should not be measured in a PP cylinder?
Avoid strong oxidising acids such as concentrated nitric acid, and aromatic or chlorinated solvents such as toluene and chloroform, which can attack or swell polypropylene. Use a borosilicate glass cylinder for these.
Can liquids be heated in a measuring cylinder?
No. Measuring cylinders, glass or plastic, are for measuring only. Warm liquid expands and gives a false reading, and direct heat will deform a PP cylinder. Heat in a beaker or flask, cool to room temperature, then measure.
Last Updated: September 2026
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