reflux condenser

7.7

A tube that cools steam and sends it back into the boiling liquid

noun
/ˈriːflʌks kənˈdɛnsər/

Specialized

: condensador de reflujo

The chemist attached a reflux condenser to the flask before heating the solution.

Examples

Without a reflux condenser, the solvent would quickly evaporate and leave the reaction mixture dry.
In laboratory experiments, a reflux condenser minimizes the loss of solvent by condensing the vapors back into the flask.
A reflux condenser is essential for many organic synthesis reactions.
The reflux condenser is essential for distillation.
A reflux condenser helps maintain the temperature during reactions.
To ensure the reaction proceeds safely, the scientist used a reflux condenser to prevent the contents from boiling dry.
During the heating process, the reflux condenser allows the vapor to cool and return to the reaction vessel.

Synonyms

condenser

vsreflux condenser

Specialized

2 5.4

A device that cools vapor so it becomes liquid

returns condensed liquid to the vessel during heating to prevent boiling dry

Surface Forms

reflux condenser singular

reflux condensers plural

Morphology

reflux + condenser

If a learner knows 'reflux' (a returning or back-flow of vapor/liquid) and 'condenser' (a device that cools vapor into liquid), they can compose those meanings to infer a condenser used to cause/enable reflux — i.e., to condense vapors and return them to the vessel. While 'reflux' is a technical term, the noun-noun compound follows straightforward compositional logic common in scientific vocabulary, so the overall function is predictable.

Etymology

Reflux condenser names a lab tube that makes hot vapor cool and flow back into the flask. The word reflux means 'flow back' and condenser is the cool tube that turns vapor into liquid, so the liquid returns and the mixture does not dry out.