Safety Emporium for all your lab and safety needs
Safety Emporium for all your lab and safety needs

*The Glassware Gallery*

Bubblers

Index  

Introduction

Bubblers are simple devices used to maintain an inert atmosphere over a reaction apparatus while also providing for a means for pressure relief. Bubblers are typically filled with mercury or mineral oil, however the latter is recommended because mercury bubblers splash quite a bit and pose a toxicity hazard. Shown here is the simplest possible setup involving a bubbler:

The picture, dude.

When the pressure inside your apparatus is greater than the laboratory's atmospheric pressure, excess gas will bubble down the tube and out through the mineral oil. If the pressure inside your apparatus falls below atmospheric pressure, oil will rise in the tube and prevent air from entering the system. However, if the pressure is too low, air will eventually get in and you will suck oil (or mercury) into your apparatus. This is the kind of mistake you generally make only once or twice (the tedious cleanup is a great learning experience).

Click on any bubbler for details or to purchase.

Bubbler
Bubbler, valved
Airfree®
Bubbler
Bubbler, In-Line
with tee
Bubbler
Bubbler, standard oil
bubbler
Bubbler, adjustable
Airfree®
Bubbler
Bubbler, double
Bubbler
Bubbler, horizontal
Bubbler
Bubbler, vertical on
standard taper joint
Bubbler
Bubbler, offset on
standard taper joint

Usage tips

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This page was last updated Sunday, June 12, 2016.
This document and associated figures are copyright 1996-2024 by Rob Toreki. Send comments, kudos and suggestions to us via email.