File talk:Distillation by Retort.png

That is definitely NOT an alembic. It is, instead, a retort, as the name of the picture suggests. An alembic is a ascensory device, usually glass or ceramic, but sometimes metal, that allows vapourised liquids to be condensed and the collected as the liquid runs down into a channel designed into the alembic head, or condenser, then down a tube into a receiver. The retort, on the other hand, has no such channel and is nowhere as efficient. (Alembic example attached.)

File:Alembic

A true alembic, possessing a channel which collects the condensed liquid, then allows it to run down the tube into a receiver.

https://media.vam.ac.uk/media/thira/collection_images/2006AM/2006AM5732_jpg_ds.jpg

https://media.vam.ac.uk/media/thira/collection_images/2006AM/2006AM5732_jpg_ds.jpg — Preceding unsigned comment was added by 104.152.232.173 (talk) 18:59, 12 February 2018 (UTC)