Retort
A retort is a rather primitive device used for distillation or dry distillation of substances. In the latter case in many cases where the absence of air is required. It consists of a spherical vessel with a long downward-pointing neck. The liquid to be distilled is placed in the vessel and heated. The neck acts as a condenser, allowing the evaporated vapors to condense and flow along the neck to a collection vessel placed underneath. In industrial applications it is an airtight vessel in which substances are heated for a chemical reaction producing gaseous products to be collected in a collection vessel or for further precessing.
In laboratory use, due to advances in technology, especially the invention of the Liebig condenser, retorts have largely been rendered obsolete.
