[oompaloo]

Does anyone happen to know why some solvents should be removed from a product during simple distillation by using a steam bath rather than a electrical heating mantle?  
For example, I know it's recommended that diethyl ether be removed using a steam bath.  I seem to think that b/c diethyl ether has a low boiling pt, a steam bath would be less efficient.  Any thoughts??  Thanks!

[mike]

Safety. Highly flammable and highly volatile solvents should not be heated with a hot plate/heating mantle or open flame.

Also highly volatile solvents don't need as much heating so steambath is quite suitable.

(Steambath may not be suitable in cases where you are trying to exclude all water)