A water bath is a laboratory equipment consisting of a container filled with hot water. The water bath is used to incubate samples in water at a constant temperature for a long period of time. All water baths have a digital or analog interface that allows users to set the desired temperature.

Applications include reagent heating, substrate melting, or cell culture incubation. It is also used to allow certain chemical reactions to occur at high temperatures. The water bath is a preferred heat source for heating flammable chemicals rather than an open flame to prevent ignition.

Different types of water baths are used depending on the application. For all water baths, it can be used up to 99.9 ° C. When the temperature is above 100 ° C, alternative methods such as oil bath, silicone bath or sand bath can be used..

Distilled water should be used, as it is considered to be a pure water, not weighing chlorine or minerals, which may cause some kind of reaction or boil that could damage the sample or equipment; has a pH of around 7, making it a neutral p, there are different types of distilled water that are classified by their purity level; they are classified through their chemical and physical properties.

Distilled water is used to prevent the embedding of metal ions on the resistance, this water is widely used not only in the baths of mary but in the different uses of the laboratory, to clean the equipment, prepare samples since it is free of electrolytes and mineral salts, in addition it is insulating and repels magnetism, and above all distilled water is used because its boiling point is higher than ordinary tap water.

• Regularly check the water level of a water bath. Be sure to use only distilled water to prevent salt build-up on the heating element. Over time, this can corrode and damage equipment.
• Maintain regular use of disinfectants, as this will help inhibit the growth of organisms in the water bath. Continuous decontamination prevents the results of research experiments from being affected by unwanted organisms on the instrument.
• Avoid carrying out dangerous chemical reactions, do not use a water bath with applications that have sensitive properties to moisture or explosives. And never heat a water bath fluid above the flash point. This is essential in order to prevent personal injury and damage to laboratories.
• Bring the temperature of the water bath to at least 90 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes at least once a week to also help decontaminate equipment.
• If you need to work with chemicals that generate or produce fumes, it is recommended to use the instrument inside a fume hood or in a well-ventilated work space.