Question

What is the purpose of using a reflux condenser when heating organic reactions ?

What is the purpose of using a reflux condenser when heating organic reactions ?

Homework Answers

Answer #1

Organic reaction sometimes requires higher activation energy to form product hence needs a higher temperature. Hence in organic reactions, higher boiling solvents are used as reaction media and are heated to their boiling points.

If you keep the reaction flask open the solvent will get evaporated in no time hence the reaction flask is fitted with water or air condenser which will cool the solvent vapours coming out of the flask and condenses it back to the flask and this cycle continues and it provides a suitable temperature for the reaction. This process is known as refluxing.

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