Schlenk flask

A Schlenk flask, or Schlenk tube, is a reaction vessel typically used in air-sensitive chemistry, invented by Wilhelm Schlenk. It has a side arm fitted with a PTFE or ground glass stopcock, which allows the vessel to be evacuated or filled with gases (usually inert gases like nitrogen or argon). These flasks are often connected to Schlenk lines, which allow both operations to be done easily.

Schlenk flasks and Schlenk tubes, like most laboratory glassware, are made from borosilicate glass such as Pyrex.

Schlenk flasks are round-bottomed, while Schlenk tubes are elongated. They may be purchased off-the-shelf from laboratory suppliers or made from round-bottom flasks or glass tubing by a skilled glassblower.

Typically, before solvent or reagents are introduced into a Schlenk flask, the flask is dried and the atmosphere of the flask is exchanged with an inert gas. A common method of exchanging the atmosphere of the flask is to flush the flask out with an inert gas. The gas can be introduced through the sidearm of the flask, or via a wide bore needle (attached to a gas line). The contents of the flask exit the flask through the neck portion of the flask. The needle method has the advantage that the needle can be placed at the bottom of the flask to better flush out the atmosphere of the flask. Flushing a flask out with an inert gas can be inefficient for large flasks and is impractical for complex apparatus.

An alternative way to exchange the atmosphere of a Schlenk flask is to use one or more "vac-refill" cycles, typically using a vacuum-gas manifold, also known as a Schlenk line. This involves pumping the air out of the flask and replacing the resulting vacuum with an inert gas. For example, evacuation of the flask to 1 mmHg (130 Pa; 0.0013 atm) and then replenishing the atmosphere with 760 mmHg (1 atm) inert gas leaves 0.13% of the original atmosphere (1⁄760). Two such vac-refill cycles leaves 0.000173% (1⁄760²). Most Schlenk lines easily and quickly achieve a vacuum of 1 mmHg (~1.3 mBar).

When using Schlenk systems, including flasks, the use of grease is often necessary at stopcock valves and ground glass joints to provide a gas tight seal and prevent glass pieces from fusing. In contrast, teflon plug valves may have a trace of oil as a lubricant but generally no grease. In the following text any "connection" is assumed to be rendered mostly air free through a series of vac-refill cycles.

The standard Schlenk flask is a round bottom, pear-shaped, or tubular flask with a ground glass joint and a side arm. The side arm contains a valve, usually a greased stopcock, used to control the flask's exposure to a manifold or the atmosphere. This allows a material to be added to a flask through the ground glass joint, which is then capped with a septum. This operation can, for example, be done in a glove box. The flask can then be removed from the glove box and taken to a Schlenk line. Once connected to the Schlenk line, the inert gas and/or vacuum can be applied to the flask as required. While the flask is connected to the line under a positive pressure of inert gas, the septum can be replaced with other apparatus, for example a reflux condenser. Once the manipulations are complete, the contents can be vacuum dried and placed under a static vacuum by closing the side arm valve. These evacuated flasks can be taken back into a glove box for further manipulation or storage of the flasks' contents.

A "bomb" flask is subclass of Schlenk flask which includes all flasks that have only one opening accessed by opening a Teflon plug valve. This design allows a Schlenk bomb to be sealed more completely than a standard Schlenk flask even if its septum or glass cap is wired on. Schlenk bombs include structurally sound shapes such as round bottoms and heavy walled tubes. Schlenk bombs are often used to conduct reactions at elevated pressures and temperatures as a closed system. In addition, all Schlenk bombs are designed to withstand the pressure differential created by the ante-chamber when pumping solvents into a glove box.