Source: Tamara M. Powers, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University 

The glovebox provides a straightforward means to handle air- and moisture-sensitive solids and liquids. The glovebox is what it sounds like: a box with gloves attached to one or more sides, which allows the user to perform manipulations within the glovebox under an inert atmosphere.

For manipulations under inert atmospheres, chemists can choose between Schlenk or high-vacuum techniques and a glovebox. Schlenk and particularly high-vacuum techniques offer a higher degree of control of the atmosphere, and are thus suitable for reactions that are greatly air- and moisture-sensitive. The glovebox, however, provides greater access for manipulations in an inert atmosphere. Weighing out reagents, filtering reactions, preparing samples for spectroscopy, and growing crystals are all examples of routine procedures that are more readily performed in a glovebox versus a Schlenk/vacuum manifold. Advancements in glovebox design have increased its performance, such as running reactions at reduced temperatures and spectroscopy within the glovebox.

This video will demonstrate how to bring items in and out of the glovebox and how to qualitatively ensure a good working environment. Basic manipulations within a glovebox will be demonstrated through the synthesis of sodium benzophenone.