3️⃣ PAG 4: Distillation

Question 1

safety

Answer 1

Hot apparatus Skin burns Allow apparatus to cool before touching it

Bunsen burner flame Skin burns Keep hair and clothes tucked in
Bunsen burner flame

Fire Do not bring flammable solvents near to the flame

Question 2

Method. - To investigate the composition of inks using simple distillation.

Answer 2

Method

1. Add a small volume of ink to a flask. Connect the flask to the fractionating column and secure it with a stand, boss and clamp.
2. Attach a condenser to the top of the fractionating column, connect it to a cold water tap and sink, and secure it over a beaker.
3. Heat the flask using a Bunsen burner, reducing the flame as necessary to achieve gentle simmering.
4. Collect a small sample of the distilled solvent, then turn the Bunsen burner off.

Question 3

Results, analysis, evaluation

Answer 3

Results

1. Describe the appearance of the distilled solvent.
2. If your apparatus included a thermometer at the top of the column, record the maximum temperature reached as the solvent was collected.

Analysis

3. Explain any difference in the appearance of the solvent and ink.
4. If you measured the maximum temperature, compare this to the boiling points of possible solvents. These could include water, ethanol and propanol.

Evaluation

5. Discuss whether you can identify the solvent from the ink.