[Hermetic0ne]

I'm buying new glassware for simple projects but tbh, I'm getting confused by all these YouTube videos. Where I got confused was with condensers.

Do I get a Vigreux or a jacketed condenser?

Is there a difference between the jacketed condenser used as a fraction column and one used in a typical distillation? The one that normally feeds into a flask.

 What is the advantage to the vigreux, time, pressure versus the other?

When doing a reflux, are we using the same typical jacketed condenser that we use in vacuum distillation?

Thanks a lot for helping a n00b

[Arkcon]

Someone else asked a similar question, and I got in touch with the organic chemist in our lab.  The answer is ... we don't know.

Sorry, but you have the best info you'll likely get.  If you're doing exactly the same manipulation as you've seen on youtube, you should buy exactly the same glassware.  If not, the biggest difference is scale -- that is, if you're using a bigger volume, you need a bigger condenser.

FWIW, we have a simple jacketed column that we use to perform USP assay for ethanol content.  When I need to reflux a different sample for 3 hour, I just switch positions of the flask with the sample.  The secret is, both manipulations work with the same sample size ~ 50 mL.