Liebeg Condenser



The Liebeg Condenser demonstration.

 Today we used the Liebeg Condenser to help us better understand the terms evaporation and condensation.  This model also helped the students to see the Water Cycle on every small scale.
I dissolved some salt and red food coloring in some tap water.  One of the students tasted it and quickly spit it out as it was too salty.  This solution was poured into a Boiling flask and then heated using the Bunsen burner.  We watched it steam and then boil.  The steam was diverted down the Liebeg Condenser where it came in contact with a colder surface created by circulating cold water.  It is in this area that the steam condensed, changing its state to a liquid where it then dribbled out and into a cup.  The class observed that this water was clear and our taster noticed that it was no longer salty tasting.

The Liebeg Condenser

A close up of the Boiling flask going into the Liebeg Condenser.

Out comes the fresh water!

Here is our fresh water!.

This shot shows the salt and food coloring left behind.