#Reaction vessel meaning how to

Typical experimental set-ups for air-sensitive reactions. Typical reactions set-ups are shown in Fig. This is more time consuming, but can be a useful technique if you need to add or remove a piece of glassware mid-way through an experiment (see below). However, it is possible to evacuate and backfill each piece of equipment separately and assemble the kit with a positive flow of inert gas coming from each piece of glassware, i.e., there is sufficient gas flow into the apparatus that a steady stream is emitted when a stopper is removed, for example. The simplest way to set up a reaction is to assemble all the glassware first and then apply the evacuate and refill cycle to ensure an inert atmosphere before adding the reagents. Schlenk flasks have a tap to connect the apparatus to the Schlenk line and control the access to inert gas or vacuum, while a three-necked flask requires an additional adaptor for this purpose. Reactions are set up in the same way as non-air-sensitive reactions, but with either a three-necked flask or Schlenk flask instead of the traditional round-bottomed flask. Important! Make sure you have read the safety considerations in part 1 before commencing work. Reactions can be air-sensitive in terms of reagents, such as n-BuLi or Grignard reagents, or it may be that only the product of the reaction is air-sensitive, for example, an organometallic complex.

#Reaction vessel meaning how to

How to add each reagent depends upon the nature of the reaction. When performing an air-sensitive reaction, adding the reagents without introducing air or moisture into the system takes care and skill.

In the final part, we will look at the isolation and analysis of your air-sensitive product(s).Įvery reaction requires the addition of several reagents, often in a proscribed order. Here we present some basic experimental set ups for performing reactions with air-sensitive compounds. In previous articles, we looked at basic Schlenk line design, how to start and stop a Schlenk line, and how to dry and degas solvents and the evacuate-refill cycle for preparing glassware for use on the Schlenk line. While Schlenk lines are conceptually simple, at first glance the mass of tubing and exotic glassware can be daunting for the first-time user. Specially adapted glassware with standardized Quick-Fit joints gives a highly modular and flexible system that enables a variety of experimental set-ups. Their design allows compounds to be handled and reactions to be performed under an inert atmosphere of argon or nitrogen. Vacuum/inert gas manifold systems, commonly called Schlenk lines, are ideal for handling compounds that react with O 2, water, or CO 2.