Which instrument is used to measure the volume of a liquid?

• A. Burette
• B. Beakers and Flasks
• C. Meter
• D. Graduated Cylinder

Answer: (D)

Measuring the volume of a liquid is best done with a graduated cylinder because its narrow shape is marked with precise volume lines, allowing you to read exactly how much liquid is present. The scale on the cylinder, along with the need to read the bottom of the meniscus at eye level, provides a reliable measure of volume. Other vessels aren’t designed for precise volume measurement: beakers and flasks can hold liquids but have rough, less accurate markings; a burette is used mainly to dispense known amounts of liquid during titrations, not just to measure a static volume; and a meter measures length, not volume. So the graduated cylinder is the right tool for determining liquid volume.