Receiver Adapter, Plain Bend

Quick Answer: A plain bend receiver adapter is the simplest glass receiver fitting: a curved tube with a joint for the condenser outlet at one end and a delivery end at the other, with no side tube or vent. It turns the distillate from a sloping condenser downwards into a flask or cylinder.

A Simple Shape With One Rule

Having no side opening, the plain bend is chosen when the receiving vessel itself is open: a conical flask, a beaker or a measuring cylinder standing under the delivery end with room for air to escape around it. The apparatus then vents naturally at the receiver, and the plain shape has nothing to block, leak or snap off. That simplicity is why it is the usual bend in school distillation sets and in kits for distilling water, ethanol-water mixtures or a recovered solvent.

The one rule concerns sealing. If the delivery end is a cone pushed firmly into a jointed receiver, the whole train is closed, and heating a closed apparatus is dangerous. For a sealed receiver choose a vented or vacuum-connection bend instead.

The title does not state the bend angle, the joint size or whether the delivery end is a cone or a plain tube; these decide which condensers and receivers it will fit. Longer and shorter delivery patterns are listed separately.

Applications

• Simple distillation of water, salt solutions or ethanol-water mixtures in school practicals
• Collecting distillate in a conical flask or measuring cylinder to record its volume
• Replacing a broken bend in an existing ground-joint distillation kit
• Recovering a used solvent at atmospheric pressure into an open receiver

Care & Handling

• Keep the delivery tip inside the mouth of the receiver but clear of the collected liquid, so drops fall cleanly and nothing is drawn back.
• Support the condenser with its own clamp so the bend never carries the condenser’s weight.
• Rinse with distilled water after aqueous distillations, or with a little acetone after organic ones, then dry upright.

Specifications

Why Choose LabEquip

Science departments equipping several benches for distillation practicals generally order plain bends in multiples with their condensers. LabEquip carries them in its chemistry lab equipment range, and a long-stem version is listed for receivers that need deeper delivery; send quantities and joint sizes via the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a plain bend receiver adapter?

It is a curved glass tube connecting the condenser outlet to the receiving vessel. Plain means it has no side tube, vent or vacuum connection.

Can the plain bend be sealed into a receiver with a ground-glass neck?

Not for heating at normal pressure unless another part of the apparatus is open to the air. Otherwise the heated system is sealed and pressure can build; use a vented receiver adapter for sealed receivers.

Is a plain bend suitable for a school distillation practical?

Yes. Delivering into an open conical flask or measuring cylinder keeps the set vented, and the simple shape stands up well to repeated student use.

How far should the tip go into the receiver?

Just inside the neck so the distillate cannot splash outside, and clear of the liquid already collected. A tip below the liquid surface can suck liquid back as the apparatus cools.

Does the plain bend work for distilling flammable solvents?

It can, with care: keep flames away, heat with a mantle or water bath and cool the receiver. A vented adapter with tubing to a fume cupboard gives better control of escaping vapour.

How do I tell a plain bend from a vented one?

Look for any small tube or hole on the curve or near the lower joint. A plain bend has a continuous wall, with openings only at its two ends.

Last Updated: September 2026