Recrystallization: Good ideas!

• Never, Never, Never Never, Never, Never boil the solution containing your product to dryness. This technique accomplishes nothing since impurities and product remain trapped together at the bottom of the flask.
• If you have added too much solvent, boil it away over an appropriate heating source (no flames!) but don't boil it to dryness!
• If crystals refuse to appear use a stirring rod to scratch the interior surface of the flask. This technique will often encourage seed crystals to leave the wall of the flask and initiate recrystallization.
• Use an Erlenmeyer flask, not a beaker, for recrystallization attempts. The flask's smaller opening reduces the amount of solvent that escapes during heating. (Note that this isn't an advantage if you've added too much solvent and now must boil some away!)
• Place a small glass stirring rod in the recrystallization flask to serve as a boiling chip. Failure to do this may result in uncontrolled boiling, splashing and loss of product.
• Use an ice/water bath to cool the recrystallization mixture only after the mixture has slowly cooled to room temperature. Be sure to properly support the recrystallization flask so that it doesn't tip over, fill with water and ruin your day.
• Use the "swish and dump" technique to transfer your product crystals to the Buchner funnel.