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How to Make a Chemistry Slurry

Slurries increase the surface area of insoluble materials within a solvent. Chemical processes can benefit greatly from the properties of a slurry. Chemical reactions that incorporate the involvement of a catalyst to carry out the reaction are enhanced by any mechanism that presents greater surface area of the catalyst to the reactants. Greater surface area of the catalyst allows the reaction to progress faster than situations that offer only limited access to the catalyst. Because a slurry involves a solvent and an insoluble material, a stirring motion must be used to keep the insoluble material in the solution.

Things You'll Need

Ring stand
Clamp
Reaction vessel
Stirring apparatus
Stir bar
Solvent
Catalyst

Instructions

- 1
  Assemble a ring stand and clamp on the laboratory bench. Adjust the height of the clamp to hold the reaction vessel above the stirring plate. The reaction vessel will contain the slurry and the reactants of the chemical reaction.
- 2
  Add a Teflon-coated magnetic stir bar to the reaction vessel. Turn on the stirring plate until the bar is rotating at a slow pace.
- 3
  Add the solvent for the slurry to the reaction vessel. As you add the solvent, you'll observe a small whirlpool develop. The whirlpool will draw the solid into the solution as it rotates.
- 4
  Add the catalyst to the reaction vessel forming a slurry. The quantity of catalyst that you'll add will depend on the consistency of the slurry you need. Each application will have its own consistency requirements for proper reaction.
- 5
  Maintain the stirring motion in the reaction vessel while the reaction is underway. The stirring motion will present the catalyst to the reactants and help the reaction proceed to completion.

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