Solvent Drunk Ideas on a Common Afternoon

A couple of things that are quite fun to try on a dragging afternoon in the lab:

• Explain how a laboratory centrifuge works without using the term “centrifugal force”.
• Give a proper explanation why and how a cooling mixture of dry ice (CO_2(s)) in isopropyl alcohol works pretty good while dry ice in water gives a rather poor coolant.
• Determine if (or under which circumstances) it is a good idea to externally warm a fractionating column including a Vigreux condenser with a fan.
• Think of what is going on when the temperature of an oil bath of a distilling apparatus is increased while it is already above the boiling point of the liquid inside.
• Give proper explanation of the processes linked to a rotary evaporator. (Pressure is of special interest.)
• Pour ether on your desk and set it on fire.

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