Chapter 2: Common Organic Chemistry Laboratory Techniques

Organic chemistry is an art-form and a craft. In research, we often talk about candidates that “have it”, the “magic touch” to get a compound analytically pure, or solve a very difficult synthetic challenge. In this chapter we will go through some common techniques that you will encounter in the organic chemistry labs. The aim of this chapter is not to give you a comprehensive introduction in the theory behind these techniques, but to highlight technical aspects to make sure you also develop this “magic touch.” We will discuss recrystallization, distillation, liquid-liquid extraction, TLC, chromatography and lastly sublimation.