In experiments, glass rods can be used to transfer solid substances, such as removing solid reagents from reagent bottles and transferring them to other containers. The use of glass rods for transfer can prevent the loss or contamination of solid substances. Although not commonly used, in some experiments, glass rods can also be used to dip gas samples. For example, when detecting gas composition, a glass rod can be used to dip the gas and transfer it to the detection device.

Glass rods come in various shapes, including straight rods, curved rods, and stirring rods. These glass rods of different shapes play their unique functions in the laboratory. The straight glass rod is the most common type, mainly used for stirring solutions, transferring solid substances, and serving as a support for tools such as burettes. The differences in length and diameter also result in different applications in different experiments.