There are many kinds of scientists that you see in labs these days and they do a lot of stuff like research, experiments and many more. They do this so that they can discover new things for us to learn from and use in the coming years. They will also have their own uniforms too and they are of different forms but whenever someone says scientists there is always something that comes into your minds when it comes to their uniforms. That would be those white coats that they wear every time they make an appearance. Those are what we call lab coats. Here are some facts that give significance of why scientists are always tagged with these.

Defining it

The lab coats or the white coats as what scientists would tell you, are knee-length overcoats or what you call smocks that are worn by professionals in the medical field or by those who are in the laboratory doing experiments, whether safe or dangerous ones. Usually these professionals would come in from outside with their street clothes and the coat will protect it from anything that comes in contact with them while they work. This also works as a uniform for them when they are at their workplace. Usually this coat is made from white or any light-colored cotton, linen or cotton polyester blend which can easily be washed at high temperature and it will be easy to see if it is clean afterwards. Actually there are other countries that wear these coats with another function. In Argentina, students wear this as a sign of learning and in Tunisia and Mozambique a teacher wears this to protect their street clothes from chalk.

The purpose of the material

The material that the coat is made of is actually helpful in protecting the one who is wearing it. When the person is in the laboratory, the coat can protect him against accidental spills. This coat will have long sleeves and they are made of an absorbent material like cotton so it protects the wearer from the chemical that spilt on him. Some of these coats even have buttons at the end of the sleeves which makes it easier to secure them around the wrist so they do not hang into beakers of chemicals while the scientists are at work.

Other versions

There are also some short-sleeved coats which are used more by microbiologists and other certain scientists. The purpose is to avoid the problem of hanging sleeves. This is also makes it easy to wash the forearms since some experiments need cleanliness and easy-to-wash protection like these short-sleeved coats. Some use them as school uniforms in certain universities and countries which are used by students who study under medical courses.

The lab coats have always been an icon and will always be associated with the medical and scientific fields always since the public has always known that these people will wear them at work. It is their symbol that they work for medicine and science.