[ELI5] Why do all chemistry/biology labs have that black stone as the bench top?
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Originally the lab tables were made from thick slabs of slate rock. Before the invention of tough synthetic surfaces slate was one of the cheapest flat stone surfaces you could buy. Slate floors and counters weren’t uncommon. Labs need a lot of counter space. So using slate was the best option as something like granite would’ve been extremely expensive.
Slate was also non porous, heat resistant, and generally non reactive with most chemicals making it great for laboratory applications as well as flooring and kitchen counters.
More modern countertops use synthetic materials to achieve the same goals. Though they usually keep the black look because that’s what people expect.
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