Before taking an inorganic laboratory course few students have experience handling air-sensitive materials using Schlenk techniques. This exercise introduces them to techniques they will employ in later syntheses. The procedure involves the formation of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran complexes of transition-metal chlorides from metal-chloride hydrates; each reaction features a dramatic color change. Concurrent with the manipulations that are taught, several principles from both general chemistry and the inorganic lecture course are brought to life. (Contains 1 figure and 3 notes.)