Place the two stands next to each other within the reach of rubber tubing and the sink. You will be connecting the rubber tubing to the sink faucet and the condenser in later steps and it can be difficult to move the apparatus once it is completed.
Attach one of the lab clamps to the lab stand by screwing the open end at the back to provide a solid attachment to the long, metal rod on the stand.
Place the round-bottomed flask in the grip of the clamp. The opening on the flask should face upwards.
Drop a few boiling chips into the flask.
Fit the fractioning column into the opening on the round-bottomed flask.
Fit the Y adapter onto the top of the fractioning column.
Attach the other lab clamp to the other lab stand. The grips of this clamp should be horizontal. Place the condenser into the grips of this second clamp. The water intake and outflow should be facing the sink.
Connect the condenser to the Y adapter. Secure the connection with a connector clip.
Fit the vacuum adapter to the end of the condenser. Secure this connection with a connector clip.
Place the collection flask at the outflow of the vacuum adapter.
Insert the thermometer into the thermometer adapter. Fit the thermometer adapter onto the top of the Y adapter. The thermometer should be inside the Y adapter near the outflow of the adapter into the condenser.
Place the Bunsen burner under the round-bottomed flask.
Attach the rubber tubing to the sink faucet. Connect the other end of the tube to the higher opening on the condenser.
Attach the other rubber tube to the lower opening on the condenser. Place the other end of the tube into the sink.
Turn on the faucet slowly. A small flow of water is all that is needed to cool the condenser; too much flow will cause the tubing to pop off.