BRAINCAKEPractical Techniques - Heating under Reflux
Many organic reactions are slow at room temperature, so the mixture must be heated for a long time. But organic reactants and products are often volatile and would boil away from an open flask. Heating under reflux solves this: the mixture is heated with a condenser fitted vertically above the flask, so vapour condenses and drips back into the flask. The reaction can continue for as long as needed without losing material.
Key points of the apparatus:
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All 11 lessons in Organic Synthesis · All Edexcel A-level Chemistry topics