Dean-Stark Apparatus

The Dean-Stark Apparatus is a laboratory device used to separate and remove water from a mixture during chemical reactions, typically in organic chemistry. It consists of a heated flask connected to a condenser and a side arm or trap. As the mixture heats, water vaporizes and travels to the condenser, where it cools and condenses back into liquid. The condensed water then accumulates in the side arm, allowing continuous removal from the reaction mixture. This process helps drive reactions forward and purify compounds by efficiently separating water without stopping the reaction.