D4RR3N Buy liquid paraffin from the local chemist. It its viscous like glycerol, I use this in preferance to lighter fractions because it contains
less water. You can heat it in a dish to >100oC to dry it if you want to, or can use it as is (slightly moist but not an issue). I place the metal
into this and there can be a slight bubbling but not much. Then top the jar up, to minimise air space, then tighten the lid.
Remove the metal, rince with dry pentane/hexane/heptane/ether and dry then transfer to your reaction etc. This is my standard technique with Li, Na, K
and the rare earths.
Bottles of this paraffin are obtainable from "small" "independent" chemists and perhaps from high street ones too. It's odour free and used for
constipation etc. About £1.50 for 150mL i think. |