Still Heads/ Splash Heads

Quick Answer: Still heads and splash heads are glass fittings that sit on a boiling flask during distillation. A still head leads the vapour sideways to the condenser and usually has a socket for a thermometer; a splash head is a bulb-type trap that stops droplets and foam being carried over with the vapour.

Two Fittings for the Same Position

Both pieces sit between the flask and the condenser, which is why they share a listing. The still head is the standard distillation head: its cone fits the flask neck, a vertical socket above takes a thermometer adapter so the bulb sits level with the side arm, and the side arm slopes down to the condenser. Reading the vapour temperature at that junction is what tells the operator which fraction is coming over.

The splash head, also called an anti-splash head or spray trap, is used when the liquid in the flask boils vigorously or foams: steam distillation, distillation of ammonia from alkaline digests in nitrogen determination, and distillation of solutions with dissolved solids. Its bulb, typically with an internal baffle or return tube, catches droplets and runs them back into the flask, so only vapour reaches the condenser and the distillate is not contaminated by the flask contents.

The title combines both types but does not say whether they are sold separately, which patterns are available, or the joint sizes.

Applications

• Simple and fractional distillation with the thermometer bulb at the side-arm junction
• Steam distillation of essential oils, where the boiling mixture splashes
• Ammonia distillation in Kjeldahl nitrogen determination, where alkali must not carry over
• Distilling solutions that foam or contain dissolved salts

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Rinse splash heads promptly after alkaline distillations and do not leave them assembled, as alkali residue seizes joints.
• Wrap the still head in foil or glass wool when distilling high-boiling liquids, so vapour does not condense before it reaches the side arm.
• Keep the thermometer adapter seal clean and intact; a leaking seal lets vapour escape at the top of the head.

Why Choose LabEquip

College analytical labs running nitrogen determinations and organic labs running routine distillations both use these heads, so they are often ordered together with condensers. LabEquip lists them in the chemistry lab equipment range and as part of the Kjeldahl distillation assembly; state the type and joint size on the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a still head and a splash head?

A still head directs vapour from the flask to the condenser and holds the thermometer. A splash head traps droplets and foam so that only vapour passes on, and is used where the boiling liquid splashes.

Where should the thermometer bulb be in a still head?

With the top of the bulb level with the lower edge of the side-arm opening, so the bulb is bathed in the vapour that is about to pass into the condenser.

Why use a splash head in Kjeldahl distillation?

The digest is made strongly alkaline to release ammonia and boils vigorously. Without a splash head, droplets of alkali reach the receiver and neutralise some of the acid, giving a falsely high nitrogen result.

Can a splash head be used in steam distillation?

Yes. Steam passing through the mixture throws up spray, and the splash head returns it to the flask so the distillate holds only the steam-volatile components.

Is a still head needed for a simple distillation?

In a ground-joint set, yes, unless a distillation flask with a built-in side arm is used. The still head provides both the route to the condenser and the thermometer position.

Should a still head be insulated?

For high-boiling liquids, yes. Wrapping the head in aluminium foil or glass wool reduces heat loss, so the vapour reaches the side arm without condensing and running back.

Last Updated: September 2026