A dropping funnel or addition funnel is a type of laboratory glassware used to transfer liquids. They are fitted with a stopcock which allows the flow to be controlled. Dropping funnels are useful for adding reagents slowly, i.e. drop-wise. This is desirable when the quick addition of the reagent results in side reactions, or if the reaction is too vigorous.[1]
Dropping funnels are usually constructed with a ground glass joint at the bottom, which allows the funnel to fit snugly onto a round bottom flask. This also means it need not be clamped separately.[1]
Dropping funnels have been in use since at least the mid-1800s.[2]