How To: Perform simple reflux in the chemistry lab

The Interactive Lab Primer (ILP) has been developed as part of the Royal Society of Chemistry Teacher Fellowship Scheme, one of the themes of the Chemistry for Our Future program, and initiative which aims to secure a strong and sustainable future for the chemical sciences in higher education. The aim of the ILP is to address the diverse range of experience and skills students bring with them to a university by offering a resource to support their transition from school to the university chemistry laboratory. The ILP is quite simply a visual guide to common laboratory techniques.

This video tutorial will teach you how to perform simple reflux in the chemistry lab. The term 'reflux' describes an arrangement when a reaction is carried out in a boiling solvent with the vapor being condensed and returned to the reaction vessel. Refluxing is carried out when reactions need to be heated to give a reasonable yield of product in a reasonable time. The reactants are dissolved in a suitable solvent in a flask fitted with a condenser. Heat is supplied via a heating mantle or an oil bath fitted with a stirrer.

Always make yourself aware of the hazards associated with the chemicals involved in a practical before you even start. If you ever come across a chemical you do not know the hazard of you must assume that is very hazardous until you find otherwise.