What is tap water primarily used for in a biotechnology lab?

Tap water is primarily used in a biotechnology lab for various purposes, one of which is the first rinse when washing glassware. Rinsing glassware with tap water helps to remove most of the residues from previous experiments before more thorough cleaning steps are taken, typically involving detergents or deionized water. This initial rinse effectively reduces contamination risks in subsequent procedures, as residual contaminants can interfere with experiments by altering results or introducing unexpected variables.

While cleaning surfaces and diluting samples may also involve tap water to some extent, these processes often require more purified forms of water, like deionized or distilled water, to ensure that no impurities affect the integrity of the experiments. In preparing buffers, the use of purified water is crucial to maintain the specific pH and ionic strength required for biochemical reactions. Thus, using tap water is most suitable in the context of initial rinsing of glassware within the lab setup.