Chemistry 151
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The Centrifuge

NEVER TOUCH A CENTRIFUGE THAT IS SPINNING.
WAIT FOR THE CENTRIFUGE TO STOP BEFORE REMOVING YOUR SAMPLE.

 

The centrifuge consists of a drive motor, a shaft and an attached head, the rotor. It is used to separate liquids from solids by the application of centrifugal force. Bench top machines spin at 1500 - 2000 rpm, a force equivalent to 2-300g.

 

Centrifuge with rotor indicated
You must keep the rotor balanced symmetrically otherwise it will rotate, i.e. if you have a sample (purple space) you must balance it with either another sample or a vial of water in the pink space.
A rotor symmetrically balanced

 
Labs
Chem 151

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© 2004, Washington University.
Materials and Information present may be reproduced for educational purposes only.
Revised: 9/8/08 (M. Littrell)