[Clanouper]

Hello, I was just wondering if it would be necessary when distilling water with a graham condenser (300mm) to actually fill and circulate coolant in the outer chamber of the condenser? Clearly it would be less efficient in condensing the vapor without coolant, but would passive cooling by ambient air be enough to ensure that no vapor actually escaped from the condenser over and extended period of time?

Thanks!

[Arkcon]

Yes it is critical, in fact.  Someone at our lab shut the water off after he was done heating, but the glassware was still hot.  It cracked from the residual heat.  The condenser can even crack if water flows the wrong way -- concurrent instead of counter-current.  So no, the distillation can't be run without cooling.  Why these aren't made out of Pyrex^TM or other brand of heat resistant glass I don't know.