water bath
What water bath means in Biology GCSE, as defined for OCR.
Definitions of water bath
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain water bath in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: OCR
A controlled, flameless heat source for incubating cultures or melting cooled agar at a set temperature, avoiding overheating or igniting flammable materials.
A heated water container, either thermostatically controlled electric or a beaker of hot water, used to heat the tube of ethanol without an open flame.
A vessel of water in which test tubes are secured in a rack or held with tongs, maintained at 75 to 80 °C or boiling for approximately 5 minutes.
Topics that use water bath
- Microbiological techniques (OCR GCSE)
- Photosynthesis (OCR GCSE)
- Testing for biological molecules (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- Bunsen burner
- axis scaling
- Biomass
- bubble counting
- carbon dioxide concentration
- chlorophyll
- chloroplasts
- commercial applications
Using water bath in the exam
Check the command word and mark scheme for your exact question. After comparing your explanation with the reference, use the term in an answer on the linked topic. This practice does not predict an exam mark.
Practise Biology questions
Create a free account to answer exam-style questions on this topic and get feedback on your answers.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge