retorte

Retorte is a term used in chemistry to denote a distillation vessel, typically made of glass, porcelain, or metal, in which a liquid is heated to produce vapors that are condensed and collected. In German and several other European languages the device is called Retorte. In English, the corresponding term is retort. Historically, retorts were central equipment in alchemy and early modern chemistry.

A retort has a hollow body, usually spherical or oval, with a long, narrow neck that curves. The vapor from the heated contents travels up the neck to a receiver after condensation. The apparatus is typically heated over a flame or furnace; sometimes the neck is connected to a separate condenser or receiver to collect the distillate, and stoppers or clamps are used in some configurations.

Retorts were widely used in medieval to early modern laboratories for distillation, dry distillation, and purification of substances. They played a key role in alchemical experiments and in early chemistry, including the preparation of volatile compounds and concentrates. By the 18th and 19th centuries, modern glassware designs such as the alembic and other distillation apparatus often replaced the classic retort in routine laboratory work, though retorts remain of historical and demonstrative interest.

Today the retort is mainly encountered in historical contexts, museums, or demonstrations of early chemistry. The term retort is cognate with the English word retort—both describe the same vessel in German-speaking contexts. Note that "retort" in English also means a quick, sharp reply, a meaning unrelated to the apparatus.