A magnetic stirrer is a device which consists of a rotating magnet or electromagnet sealed inside a case. A beaker or flask of liquid is placed upon the deck of the unit and a magnetic 'follower' or 'stir bar' is placed into the liquid. When the device is started up, The rotating magnet in the unit forces the stir bar to rotate at the same speed, effectively stirring the liquid.
A beaker or flask of liquid is placed upon the deck of the unit and a magnetic 'follower' or 'stir bar' is placed into the liquid. When the device is started up, The rotating magnet in the unit forces the stir bar to rotate at the same speed, effectively stirring the liquid.
The main benefits of using a magnetic stirrer over a mechanical stirrer is that it is much quieter and apart form the stir bar, nothing comes into contact with the flask or liquid prolonging the life of the unit. The stir rods can be sterilised easily but may break down over time as their construction (a metal magnet inside a plastic coating) is fairly simple. Stir rods can be purchased fairly cheaply from lab suppliers. The magnet is covered in the plastic or a glass covering to make it chemically inert, allowing it to be submerged in liquids without affecting them.
Some magnetic stirrers have a heating function which can heat the flask from below, some have a variable speed function. In very viscous liquids, the stir bar may only be effective rotating at the slower speeds whereas when making a solution from heavy crystals (CuSO4 for example) a fast speed usually helps dissolve the solid quicker.