Atmospheres, inert

For many routine reactions involving Grignard reagents in diethyl ether, the solvent vapour forms a protective blanket over the solution (cf. Ref. [5]), and drying tubes are adequate to exclude moisture. Nevertheless, the use of closed systems with inert atmospheres is recommended even for preparative work, and for physicochemical studies, where traces of alkoxides may have significant effects, it may be necessary to employ vacuum line techniques, rigorously purified atmospheres in glove boxes, and the like. The cheapest form of inert atmosphere is white spot  

For small-scale work, a very simple device is a balloon connected to a 

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CH2=CHC = CCH = CH2. a colourless liquid which turns yellow on exposure to the air it has a distinct garlic-like odour b.p. 83-5°C. Manufactured by the controlled, low-temperature polymerization of acetylene in the presence of an aqueous solution of copper(I) and ammonium chlorides. It is very dangerous to handle, as it absorbs oxygen from the air to give an explosive peroxide. When heated in an inert atmosphere, it polymerizes to form first a drying oil and finally a hard, brittle insoluble resin. Reacts with chlorine to give a mixture of chlorinated products used as drying oils and plastics. 

Used (particularly He, Ar) to provide an inert atmosphere, e.g. for welding, and in electric light bulbs, valves and discharge tubes (particularly Ne). Liquid He is used in cryoscopy. The amounts of He and Ar formed in minerals by radioactive decay can be used to determine the age of the specimen. Xe and to a lesser extent Kr and Rn have a chemistry the other noble gases do not form chemical compounds. 

Mercury-sealed stirrers are used in the following operations (1) simultaneous stirring and refluxing of a reaction mixture (2) stirring the contents of a closed vessel (3) agitation with prevention of the escape of a gas or vapour and (4) stirring in an inert atmosphere, such as... 

Sodium metal should be handled with great care. It cannot be maintained in an inert atmosphere and contact with water and other substances with which sodium reacts should be avoided. 

Rubidium can be liquid at room temperature. It is a soft, silvery-white metallic element of the alkali group and is the second most electropositive and alkaline element. It ignites spontaneously in air and reacts violently in water, setting fire to the liberated hydrogen. As with other alkali metals, it forms amalgams with mercury and it alloys with gold, cesium, sodium, and potassium. It colors a flame yellowish violet. Rubidium metal can be prepared by reducing rubidium chloride with calcium, and by a number of other methods. It must be kept under a dry mineral oil or in a vacuum or inert atmosphere. 

A suspension of 7.5 grams LAH in 500ml anhydrous Et20 was magnetically stirred, and heated in an inert atmosphere to a gentle reflux. The condensing Et20 leached out a total of 9.8 g 2-nitro-... 

From the perspective of laboratory practice, the sensitivity of many indoles to acids, oxygen and light prescribes the use of an inert atmosphere for most reactions involving indoles and the avoidance of storage with exposure to light. This sensitivity is greatly attenuated by electron-withdrawing (EW) substituents. 

Type J thermocouples (Table 11.58) are one of the most common types of industrial thermocouples because of the relatively high Seebeck coefficient and low cost. They are recommended for use in the temperature range from 0 to 760°C (but never above 760°C due to an abrupt magnetic transformation that can cause decalibration even when returned to lower temperatures). Use is permitted in vacuum and in oxidizing, reducing, or inert atmospheres, with the exception of sulfurous atmospheres above 500°C. For extended use above 500°C, heavy-gauge wires are recommended. They are not recommended for subzero temperatures. These thermocouples are subject to poor conformance characteristics because of impurities in the iron. 

The Type T thermocouple (Table 11.63) is popular for the temperature region below 0°C (but see under Type E). It can be used in vacuum, or in oxidizing, reducing, or inert atmospheres. 

The effectiveness of phenoHc inhibitors is dependent on the presence of oxygen and the monomers must be stored under air rather than an inert atmosphere. Temperatures must be kept low to minimise formation of peroxides and other products. Moisture may cause mst-initiated polymerization. 

In normal practice, inhibitors such as hydroquinone (HQ) [123-31 -9] or the monomethyl ether of hydroquinone (MEHQ) [150-76-5] are added to acrylic monomers to stabilize them during shipment and storage. Uninhibited acrylic monomers should be used prompdy or stored at 10°C or below for no longer than a few weeks. Improperly iahibited monomers have the potential for violent polymerizations. HQ and MEHQ require the presence of oxygen to be effective inhibitors therefore, these monomers should be stored in contact with air and not under inert atmosphere. Because of the low concentration of inhibitors present in most commercial grades of acrylic monomers (generally less than 100 ppm), removal before use is not normally required. However, procedures for removal of inhibitors are available (67). 

Eor some uses, higher molecular weight polymer consisting of 150—200 repeat units is required. Such polymer usually is prepared by soHd-state polymerization in which pellets are heated under an inert atmosphere to 200—240°C. The 2G is removed continuously. The rate of polymerization depends on particle size, end group composition, and crystallinity (65). 

PVF is more thermally stable than other vinyl halide polymers. High molecular weight PVF is reported to degrade in an inert atmosphere, with concurrent HF loss and backbone cleavage occurring at about 450°C (71,72). In air, HF loss occurs at about 350°C, followed by backbone cleavage around 450°C. 

Nylon films are used in lamination or coated form to ensure heat sealabiHty and enhance barrier properties. The largest uses are as thermoforming webs for twin-web processed meat and cheese packagiag under vacuum or in an inert atmosphere. Other uses include bags for red meat, boil-ia-bags, bag-in-box for wine, and as the outer protective layer for aluminum foil in cookie and vacuum coffee packages. 

Hafnium metal is analy2ed for impurities using analytical techniques used for 2irconium (19,21,22). Carbon and sulfur in hafnium are measured by combustion, followed by chromatographic or in measurement of the carbon and sulfur oxides (19). Chromatographic measurement of Hberated hydrogen follows the hot vacuum extraction or fusion of hafnium with a transition metal in an inert atmosphere (23,24). 

Acetates. Anhydrous iron(II) acetate [3094-87-9J, Ee(C2H202)2, can be prepared by dissolving iron scraps or turnings in anhydrous acetic acid ( 2% acetic anhydride) under an inert atmosphere. It is a colorless compound that can be recrystaUized from water to afford hydrated species. Iron(II) acetate is used in the preparation of dark shades of inks (qv) and dyes and is used as a mordant in dyeing (see Dyes and dye intermediates). An iron acetate salt [2140-52-5] that is a mixture of indefinite proportions of iron(II) and iron(III) can be obtained by concentration of the black Hquors obtained by dissolution of scrap iron in acetic acid. It is used as a catalyst of acetylation and carbonylation reactions. 

Formates. lron(Il) formate dihydrate [13266-734], Fe(HC02)2 2H20, is a green salt which can be prepared from iron(Il) sulfate and sodium formate in an inert atmosphere. The compound is slightly soluble in water and fairly resistant to air oxidation. The anhydrous salt [3047-594] is known. 

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