Glassware

This page gives brief information about the different glassware items that are available in teaching labs and what they are used for. For more detailed information on how to use this glassware to carry out experimental procedures, please see the techniques pages.

Specialist

Photo showing a distillation kit containing condenser, round bottom flasks, adapter sand thermometers.

Distillation

Distillation glassware is used when separating liquids from one another, using the differences in boiling point between the individual components. We have a variety of different size distillation equipment in teaching labs.

Photo showing a dean stark trap

Dean Stark

Dean-Stark apparatus is used to remove water from a less dense solvent. The cone end connects to the reaction vessel and the socket end connects to a condenser. The stopcock is used to remove excess water as needed during the process.

Photo showing a dropping funnel.

Dropping Funnels

Dropping funnels are used to control the flow of a liquid reagent into a reaction, where addition must be carried out slowly. The rate of addition is controlled using the tap. 

Photo showing a Soxhlet extractor.

Soxhlet Extractors

A Soxhlet extractor is used when a compound has limited solubility and any impurities are insoluble. The chamber fills with warm solvent and when a level is reached it siphons back into the heating flask, along with some of the desired compound.

Photo showing a Dreschel Bottle.

Dreschel Bottles

Dreschel bottles are used as oil bubblers when carrying out air sensitive chemistry, for example in a schlenk line. Silicon oil is added to the bottle and the head attached to the line, creating a constant nitrogen flow .

Photo showing a Desiccator.

Desiccators

Desiccators are airtight containers which keep hydroscopic chemicals dry by maintaining a low humidity atmosphere through use of a suitable drying agent. 

Photo showing a kjeldahl flask

Kjeldahl Flasks

A Kjeldahl flask is a round bottom flask with a long neck. It is used in Kjeldahl digestion which is a process used to determine the amount of organic nitrogen in a chemical substance.

Photo showing a viscometer.

Viscometers

A viscometer is used to measure the viscosity of liquids.

Photo showing a set of splash heads (bump tramps).

Splash Heads (bump tramps)

Splash head adapters are used during distillations or rotary evaporation to prevent contamination or prevent loss of product. They catch any liquid that has 'bumped' out of the collection vessel and allow it transfer back.

Columns

Photo showing the tap end of a flash column.

Flash Columns

Flash columns are the most common form of column chromatography used in teaching labs. They are used to separate components of a mixture, to purify a product, relatively quickly.

Photo showing the end of a fritted column.

Other Columns

Other shapes and sizes of columns may be more suitable for purifying different products.

Vacuum and Gas Lines

Photo showing a Schlenk line set up.

Schlenk Lines

Schlenk Lines are used to carry out air-sensitive chemistry in an inert environment. Reactions are typically carried out in a Schlenk tube which is connected to the Schlenk line using thick-walled rubber tubing.  

Photo showing a gas line set up.

Gas Lines

Gas lines offer a means of manipulating gases in the laboratory in order to study their properties, commonly using infrared spectroscopy.

Photo showing a high vacuum dryer set up.

Vacuum Drying

After using a rotavap or büchner funnel to remove solvent from a compound it may appear dry but often there will be residual solvent molecules that can only be removed by placing the compound under high vacuum.