Keywords: reflux, toluene, sodium, benzophenone, distillation, desiccation

• 
  A bottle of benzophenone by Lancaster.
• 
  ]] and benzophenone to produce dry, oxygen-free toluene.
• 
  The mixture is still not blue yet indicating that the reaction is not complete.
• 
  The intense blue coloration due to the benzophenone ketyl radical shows that the toluene is considered free of air and moisture.
• 
  After the toluene has been thoroughly dried by the sodium and benzophenone, it is distilled at atmospheric pressure under a slight positive pressure of nitrogen to prevent contamination by air into the receiving Schlenk flask.