['< sod > an\'\'\'alembic\'\'\'is an [ [ alchemy | alchemical ] ] [ [ still ] ] consisting of two vessels connected by a tube, used for distilling chemicals. the complete distilling apparatus consists of three parts : the " [ [ cucurbit ] ] " ( karʿa ), the " head " or " cap " ( anbik ) and the " receiver " ( kabila ). modern retorts have the " cap " and the " cucurbit " made into one. the anbik is also called the raʾs ( head ) of the cucurbit. the liquid in the cucurbit is heated or boiled ; the vapour rises into the anbik, where it cools by contact with the walls and condenses, running down the spout into a receiver. a modern descendant of the alembic is the [ [ pot still ] ], used to produce [ [ distilled beverages | distilled alcoholic beverages ] ]. < eod > < sod > an\'\'\'alembic\'\'\'is an [ [ alchemy | alchemical ] ] [ [ still ] ] consisting of two vessels connected by a tube, used for distilling chemicals. the complete distilling apparatus consists of four parts : the " [ [ cucurbit ] ] " ( arabic karʿa, greek βικος ), the " head " or " cap " ( arabic anbik, greek αμβιξ ), the " pipe " ( greek σωλην ), and the " receiver " ( arabic kabila, greek αγγος or φιαλη ). modern [ [ retort ] ] s have the " cap " and the " cucurbit " made into one. the anbik is often also called the raʾs ( dry head ) of the cucurbit. the cooling liquid in the cucurbit is heated or boiled ; the vapour rises into the anbik, where it cools by contact with the walls and condenses, running down the spout into a receiver. a modern descendant of the alembic is the [ [ pot still ] ], used to produce [ [ distilled beverages | distilled and alcoholic beverages ] ]. < eod >']