Final answer:
In a laboratory setting, a small porcelain dish called a crucible or evaporating dish is used for evaporating liquids over a burner due to its ability to withstand high temperatures and moderate thermal conductivity. Safety measures must be observed to prevent burns.
Step-by-step explanation:
When evaporating a liquid over a burner, the small porcelain dish that should be used is known as a crucible or evaporating dish. These dishes are designed to withstand high temperatures, which makes them suitable for applications such as furnace tubes, lighting tubes, and melting crucibles.
Porcelain is a type of ceramic material commonly used in labware, household cookware, and more due to its thermal properties which include a resistance to high temperatures and a moderate thermal conductivity compared to metal. In laboratory settings, safety precautions must be taken, such as not touching the dish directly with hands to prevent burns and using appropriate tools to handle the hot equipment.