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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: maryland27 on December 05, 2019, 04:34:49 PM

Title: Sand bath with steel wool instead of sand?
Post by: maryland27 on December 05, 2019, 04:34:49 PM

Would that work? I need to work on temperatures of 140-150°C, and I think sand baths are really slow to start to heat

Title: Re: Sand bath with steel wool instead of sand?
Post by: maryland27 on December 05, 2019, 04:36:33 PM

I need to heat my becker evenly and it has to be really cheap, like home items.
An oil bath is out of the question, because I don't have the appropriate support.

Title: Re: Sand bath with steel wool instead of sand?
Post by: Borek on December 06, 2019, 03:33:18 AM

Does it really make a difference if you need to wait additional 15 minutes? Or even half an hour?

Title: Re: Sand bath with steel wool instead of sand?
Post by: maryland27 on December 06, 2019, 03:41:03 AM

It's going to be a big, tall Becker, and I need to do several runs, so I need a "sand" that's easier to handle.

Title: Re: Sand bath with steel wool instead of sand?
Post by: AWK on December 06, 2019, 04:14:22 AM

Steel wool oxidizes when heated.

https://ehs.princeton.edu/book/export/html/376

Title: Re: Sand bath with steel wool instead of sand?
Post by: maryland27 on December 06, 2019, 05:13:07 AM

Yes, that was my main concern. Maybe if I add oil to it? The steel wool would serve as a support and wouldn't oxidize, and it would be easy to put another Becker in it once I'm done.

Title: Re: Sand bath with steel wool instead of sand?
Post by: wildfyr on December 06, 2019, 10:30:35 AM

I've seen specialized aluminum balls advertised for this function