In addition to their scientific applications, bell jars may also serve as display cases or transparent dust covers.

The lower edge of a vacuum bell jar forms a flange of heavy glass, ground smooth on the bottom for better contact.

As the vacuum forms inside, it creates a considerable compression force, so there is no need to clamp the seal.

However, several tests may be completed in a bell jar chamber having an effective pump and low leak rate.

[2] In his book, New Experiments Physico-Mechanicall, Touching the Spring of the Air, and its Effects, (Made, for the Most Part, in a New Pneumatical Engine), he described 43 separate experiments, some of which were carried out with Robert Hooke, investigating the effect of reducing the air pressure within the bell jar on the objects contained within.

A common misconception is that the water level rises to replace the consumed oxygen, but since the combustion reaction produces carbon dioxide gas as a product, this explanation is not correct.

Whenever working with liter sized or larger flasks, chemists should consider using a safety screen or the sash of a flow hood to protect them from shards of glass, should an implosion occur.

Round bottom flasks more effectively spread the stress across their surfaces, and are therefore safer when working under vacuum.

[11][12][13] Decorative bell jars were made of thin glass, with more care being taken regarding their optical clarity, and they did not have a thickened base flange.