Australia's Science Forum

I have 2 side arm conical flasks with corl stoppers inside them *little darlings*

How can i get them out? If it was a test tube i would just break it, but these are a little more pricey to replace....

Thanks!

Try to cut up stopper or tip some Nitric acid in to dissolve Cork in a fume cabinet.
Let me tell you about the most dangerous mistake I ever made, I had a 1L volumetric flask that some little darling had pushed a cork into, so I added a little water then juggled cork till I had narrow end in neck and started to warm water in bottom thing pressure would push cork back out, Wrong the flask exploded with an almighty blast showering me with fine Glass, no amount of glassware is worth your health

Oh My Ocker - thats what I am trying to avoid!!!
Getting the delivery tubed sorted i always remeber Noona, and how she ended up with one thru her hand!

I will try the nitric acid....for this prac (distillation) they can do it with the cork in it....

there is a Utube clip on how to get a cork out of a bottle...have a look...maybe will work
otherwise ..send the flask to glassware heaven

I have had much success in the past by using a piece of string. Place each end of the string in the neck of the flask, then invert the flask and jiggle so the stopper sits firmly against the string ( you should now have a handle ). Now pull..!!!
I remember seeing this on the curiosity show when I was the kid.

Good luck
Kase

Sometimes if you can get the cork into the top by inverting the flask, then use a dissection probe through the side arm to stop it falling back down (two person job) when you put it back the right way. You can use a scalpel to cut the cork up, or if the side arm is big enough to fit the handle of the probe you may be able to get enough pressure to put a cork screw in to pull it out. But whoever holds the probe needs to not let go!

throw them out and buy new conical flasks

OMG - the plastic bag trick that i saw on YOUTUBE worked....I got the cork out!!!!
OMG I wish i had flimed it LOL

Whereabouts on/ion Utube did you find the clip?? Could you give me the site address please?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKhOG7duR9k

this is one of them...
I didn't blow into the plastic bag,,, and I just used a freezer bag - worked well..if you watch the clip you will know what I mean.

year 10 boys loved it - they want it for their next prac!! LOL

Wow great job Narelle - looks so simple!

Hopefully I'll remember next time it happens to us!