Materials Needed
- Diffusion tube
- Ring stand
- Evaporating dish
- 2 L volumetric flask
- Hot plate
- Candle
Procedure
- Setup:
- Attach the diffusion tube to a ring stand at approximately a 45° angle.
- Place an evaporating dish underneath the bottom end of the diffusion tube.
- Preparation of Hexane Vapors:
- Add about 1-2 mL of hexane into the 2 L volumetric flask.
- Gently heat the stoppered flask and its contents on a hot plate to generate hexane vapors.
- Vapor Transfer:
- Carefully pour the generated vapors into the diffusion tube.
- Set the volumetric flask down so that its neck is even with the top of the diffusion tube.
- Ignition:
- Use a candle to ignite the hexane fumes at the evaporating dish.
Safety Precautions
- Ensure good ventilation as hexane fumes can be harmful.
- Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and goggles.
- Handle the hot plate with care to avoid burns.
This experiment illustrates the behavior of hexane vapors and their ignition properties.