Condenser (apparatus)

A condenser is a type of laboratory glassware. It is used to condense hot gases into liquids. A condenser is usually a long, circular glass tube. Inside the tube, there is another, smaller tube. The hot gas goes through the smaller inside tube surrounded by cold water from the outside. Cold water surrounds the smaller tube to lower the temperature of the gas inside the smaller tube. The cold water will keep getting replaced in the larger tube so that the cold water can keep removing heat from the gas.

A condenser is used for example in distillation, where the hot vapour needs to be cooled down back to liquid to be collected. It is also used in reflux where it makes sure that the solvent used does not boil and go away.

Category:Laboratory equipment