Air sensitivity

[3] Glove boxes are sealed cabinets filled with an inert gas such as argon or nitrogen.

[4] Normal laboratory equipment can be set up in the glovebox, and manipulated by the use of gloves that penetrate its walls.

[7] A Schlenk line is a vacuum and inert-gas dual-manifold that allows glassware to be evacuated and refilled with inert gas specially developed to work with air sensitive compounds.

It is connected with a cold trap to prevent vapors from contaminating a rotary vane pump.

Almost all metals react with air to form a thin passivating layer of oxide, which is often imperceptible.