Mystery of the Fractionating Reflux - Solved!

Mystery of the Fractionating Reflux - Solved! At 10 * 10 subscribers, I posted a puzzler: This fractionating column would usually separate compounds in the gas phase, so that they might be collected and condensed one by one. So why is mine an open reflux, without a stillhead or condenser? At 11 * 12 subscribers, here's the answer! An earlier experiment left me with some glass beads mixed with sulfur powder. Even after sieving, the sulfur sticks to the beads. Sulfur dissolves in toluene, so I refluxed some using a fractionating column packed with the sulfur-beads. As the vapors condense, they continually extract the sulfur from the beads. After a while, the beads are nice and clean. The sulfur accumulates in the boiling flask. When slowly cooled, large clumps of crystals form. So the sulfur is reclaimed as well. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned!

• #science_technology
• #chemistry
• #glassware
• #sulfur
• #beads
• #toluene
• #reflux
• #puzzler