Cotton wool

Experiment 6. Fractional Distillation of a Mixture of Benzene and Toluene. Fractionally distil about 40 ml. of a mixture of equal volumes of benzene and toluene, using the type of fractionating column shown in Fig. ii(b), in which about 18-20 cm. of the column are actually filled with glass sections, but in which the cotton-wool lagging is not used. Distil very slowlyy so that the total distillation occupies about hours. Shield the apparatus very carefully from draughts. Collect the fractions having the b.ps (a) 80-85°, ( ) 85-107°, (c) 107-111°. A sharp separation should be obtained, e.g.y these fractions should have volumes of about 19, 2, and 17 ml. respectively. 

Chromatographic Separation of a Mixture of o- and p-Nitroaniline. Prepare a glass tube A (Fig. 24) in which the wider portion has a diameter of 3 cm. and a length of ca. 30 cm. the narrow portion at the base has a diameter of 5-7 mm. Wash the tube thoroughly (if necessary, with chromic acid, followed by distilled water and ethanol) and then dry. Insert a small plug of cotton-wool P as shown just within the narrow neck of the tube it is essential that this plug does not project into the wider portion of the tube. Clamp the tube in a vertical position. 

A i-litre measuring cylinder may be used in place of the cylinder E, but when the bung F is in position, any gap at the lip of the cylinder must be tightly plugged with cotton wool. 

Two forms of the so called calcium chloride tubes (also termed drying tubes, straight form) are shown in (c) and (d) these are fiUed with anhydrous calcium chloride or with cotton wool (previously dried at 100°), and are attached by means of a stopper to a flask or apparatus containing substances from which moisture is to be excluded. 

Fig. 77,13, 1 illustrates a distillation unit when it is desired to protect the distillate from moisture in the atmosphere. The drying tube may be filled with anhydrous calcium chloride held in position by loose plugs of glass wool or with a loose plug of cotton wool. Fig. 77,13, 2 depicts the use of an air condenser for liquids of boiling point above 140-150°. 

Absorbent cotton (cotton wool). This material is an excellent drying agent for use in the so-called calcium chloride tubes, i.e., drying tubes, placed at the top of dropping funnels, reflux condensers, etc., to exclude moisture. It is more convenient than calcium chloride, and should preferably be dried in an oven at 100° before use. 

When the adsorbent has been introduced into the tube, the latter is fitted into a filter flask (see Fig. 77, 46, 2) to which a pump is attached the pump is run slowly and the column is again pressed down gently with the wooden pestle. The circumference of the upper surface is gently and uniformly tapped, especially where it is in contact with the glass surface, for about one minute air bubbles and channels are thus avoided when the solution is poured in. Some workers place a loose plug of cotton wool or a circle of filter paper at the top of the column in order to protect the solid from disturbance when the liquid is introduced. 

Method 1. Mix 1 0 g. of 3 5-dinitrobenzoic acid (Section IV,168) with 4 ml. of thionyl chloride in a dry 50 ml. conical flask fit a reflux condenser, carrying a plug of cotton wool at the upper end, into the flask and heat on a water bath for 15-30 minutes. Remove the condenser and heat the flask in a boiling water bath FUME CUPBOARD 1) until the excess of thionyl chloride has evaporated. Use the resulting 3 5-dinitrobenzoyl chloride (about 10 g.) immediately. 

Fit a 500 ml. round-bottomed flask with a dropping funnel and a double surface condenser alternatively, the flask may be provided with a two-way addition tube (Fig. II, 13, 9) and the dropping funnel and condenser inserted into the latter. Place 37 g. (46 ml.) of iso-butyl alcohol (b.p. 106-108°) and 40 g. (41 ml.) of pure pyridine in the flask and 119 g. (73 ml.) of redistilled thionyl chloride in the dropping funnel. Insert a cotton wool or calcium chloride guard tube into the mouth of the funnel. Introduce the thionyl chloride during 3-4 hours a white solid... 

In a 250 ml. separatory funnel place 25 g. of anhydrous feri.-butyl alcohol (b.p. 82-83°, m.p. 25°) (1) and 85 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid (2) and shake the mixture from time to time during 20 minutes. After each shaking, loosen the stopper to relieve any internal pressure. Allow the mixture to stand for a few minutes until the layers have separated sharply draw off and discard the lower acid layer. Wash the halide with 20 ml. of 5 per cent, sodium bicarbonate solution and then with 20 ml. of water. Dry the preparation with 5 g. of anhydrous calcium chloride or anhydrous calcium, sulphate. Decant the dried liquid through a funnel supporting a fluted Alter paper or a small plug of cotton wool into a 100 ml. distilling flask, add 2-3 chips of porous porcelain, and distil. Collect the fraction boiling at 49-51°. The yield of feri.-butyl chloride is 28 g. 

Filter the dried product through a fluted filter paper or a small cotton wool plug supported in a funnel into a dry 50 ml. distilling flask, and distil on a wire gauze or from an air bath (Fig. 11, 5, 3). Collect the fraction, b.p. 100-103°. The yield of n-butyl bromide is 18-19 g. 

In a 200 ml. distilling flask place 64 g. (50 ml.) of dry n-butyl bromide and 80 g. of dry silver nitrite (1). Insert a reflux condenser, carrying a cotton wool (or calcium chloride) guard tube, into the mouth of the flask and close the side arm with a small stopper. Allow the mixture to stand for 2 hours heat on a steam bath for 4 hours (some brown fumes are evolved), followed by 8 hours in an oil bath at 110°. Distil the mixture and collect the fraction of b.p. 149-151° as pure 1-nitro-n-butane (18 g.). A further small quantity may be obtained by distilling the fractions of low boihng point from a Widmer flask. 

If the outlet of the siphon tube at the bottom of the Soxhlet apparatus is well plugged with cotton wool so that no finely-divided bariuna hydroxide can pass into the flask, the barium hydroxide may be placed directly into the extractor until the latter is three-quarters full the remaining space is filled with glass wool. 

Stopper the side arm of a 25 or 50 ml. distilling flask and fit a vertical water condenser into the neck. Place 0-5-1 -0 g. of the dry acid (finely powdered if it is a solid) into the flask, add 2-5-5 0 ml. of redistilled thionyl chloride and reflux gently for 30 minutes it is advisable to place a plug of cotton wool in the top of the condenser to exclude moisture. Rearrange the condenser and distil off the excess of thionyl chloride t (b.p. 78°). The residue in the flask consists of the acid chloride and can be converted into any of the derivatives given below. 

Method 1. Use the apparatus depicted iu Fig. Ill, 56, 1, but omit the thermometer also attach a cotton wool (or calcium chloride) tube to the side arm of the filter fiask receiver in order to prevent the entrance of moisture into the apparatus. Mount the reaction fiask in a water bath e.g., a large beaker or other convenient vessel). It is important that all the apparatus be perfectly dry, since both phosphorus trichloride and acetyl chloride are decomposed by water. The set-up should be assembled in the fume eupboard. 

Method B. In a 500 ml. round-bottomed flask, provided with a reflux condenser protected by a cotton wool (or calcium chloride) drying tube, place 59 g. of succinic acid and 102 g. (94-5 ml.) of redistilled acetic anhydride. Reflux the mixture gently on a water bath with occasional shaking until a clear solution is obtamed ca. 1 hour), and then for a further hour to ensure the completeness of the reaction. Remove the complete assembly from the water bath, allow it to cool (observe the formation of crystals), and finally cool in ice. Collect the succinic anhydride as in Method A. The yield is 45 g., m.p. 119-120°. 

---