Heating Sources

The flammable organic solvents used in the organic laboratory require special provisions especially with respect to heat sources. A Bunsen burner is not often used since its exposed flame could ignite flammable vapors present. Any time you use a Bunsen burner in the lab, be sure there are no flammable solvents nearby that could present an explosion hazard.

The steam bath is often used as a heating source in the organic lab. Water in the steambath is heated from below with an electrical hotplate. As the water boils, steam rises to heat glassware positioned above the steambath. Concentric lids permit the opening of the steam bath to be adjusted to accommodate a variety of different sizes of glassware.

Thermowell heating units are used in situations requiring higher temperatures than a steam bath would permit. An external control box (e.g. Variac transformer or....) plugs into outlets available on the lab benchtops and into the Thermowell unit itself. A dial on the controller permits temperature adjustment. Never plug the Thermowell directly into an outlet!!