Using Ice-Cooled Condensers in Chemistry Laboratory
Sally Solomon, Bryan Brook, Susan Rutkowsky, and Joseph Bennet
J. Chem. Educ. 80, 299 (2003) (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/ice-cooled.condensers.pdf)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/ice-cooled.condensers.pdf)
Abstract
An ice-cooled condenser, consisting of a jacket built around a tube open to the atmosphere with an outlet for removal of melting ice, is designed for use in academic laboratory classes. The apparatus can be used in place of standard water cooled condensers in setups where refluxing or distillation is performed. With this simple, inexpensive device there is no need for access to running water. Potential flooding due to insecure tubing is no longer a problem. The ice-cooled accessory, produced with standard glass tubing and either 14/10 or 14/20 ground glass joints, is compatible with most commercially available microscale or small scale kits. The device may even be used with an Erlenmeyer flask and a stopper or cork. Two experiments using ordinary household chemicals are suggested, one requiring refluxing and the other distillation.