chemrox
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a tale from the ug days at the big U
We were given oil baths, corks and glass with stems. It was ugly in the ug labs at the big U. Professor R made everybody heat his oil bath up at the
same time. The procedure called for placing the sep/addition funnel on top of the condenser. No flame was allowed once the ether was poured. I came
prepared; I had iodine. I brought a turkey baster and an ice bucket. I got some freshly distilled ether from another lab. I didn't heat my oil.
I used water from the hot water tap instead. I didn't screw around with the goofy setup. I put my addition funnel in the side neck where it
belonged. I put my Mg in the flask, poured in a little ether and got all the air out before starting my condenser water. I put an I2 crytsal in the
Mg, ran in a little of the concentrated halide/ether mix and it turned reddish brown and started refluxing right away. The solvent quickly started
overrunning the condenser and the ice and turkey baster came into play. I was leaving when almost everybody was starting to get the reaction
going. Some guys never got it to go .. there were always those guys..
"When you let the dumbasses vote you end up with populism followed by autocracy and getting back is a bitch." Plato (sort of)
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Sauron
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Yeah, there were always guys who couldn't boil water in the practical labs.
I hope they all married Stepford wives (or stepford husband) who would make coffee for them.
And have stepford secretaries at the office.
Sic gorgeamus a los subjectatus nunc.
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Saerynide
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Turkey baster?? I don't recall using or needing a turkey baster 
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unionised
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" I don't recall using or needing a turkey baster "
That could start a thread all of its own, possibly more biology than chemistry. ;-)
When I was a student we were expected to do most practical work in pairs. I found a totally hamfisted partner. I did the practical work- he did the
writeup- I copied it. It seemed like a sensible agreement .
[Edited on 4-6-08 by unionised]
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