A typical kitchen funnelA ceramicRoman kitchen funnel (1st–3rd century AD)
Afunnel is a tube or pipe that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for guiding liquid or powder into a small opening.[1][2]
Funnels are usually made ofstainless steel,aluminium,glass, orplastic. The material used in its construction should be sturdy enough to withstand the weight of the substance being transferred, and it should not react with the substance. For this reason, stainless steel or glass are useful in transferringDiesel fuel, while plastic funnels are useful in the kitchen. Sometimes disposablepaper funnels are used in cases where it would be difficult to adequately clean the funnel afterwards (for example, in addingmotor oil into a car). Dropper funnels, also calleddropping funnels or tap funnels, have atap to allow the controlled release of a liquid. A flat funnel,[3] made of polypropylene, utilisesliving hinges and flexible walls to fold flat.
There are many different kinds of funnels that have been adapted for specialised applications in the laboratory, such asFilter funnels andthistle funnels (shaped likethistle flowers).Dropping funnels have stopcocks which allow the fluids to be added to a flask slowly. For solids, a powder funnel with a wide and short stem is more appropriate as it does not clog easily.
Glass is the material of choice for laboratory applications due to its inertness compared with metals or plastics. However, plastic funnels made of nonreactivepolyethylene are used for transferring aqueous solutions. Plastic is most often used for powder funnels that do not come into contact with solvent in normal use.
To channelliquids or fine-grained substances into containers with a small opening. Used for pouring liquids or powder through a small opening and for holding the filter paper in filtration. Used in transferring liquids in small containers.
Funnels known askilling cones are used to slaughter individual birds inpoultry farming. The funnel is used to hold a bird upside down so that it can be bled more easily.[5]
