C2.1.5 - Distillation

Question 1

What is the order for simple distillation?

Answer 1

1. Solution is heated
2. Solvent boils
3. Solvent escapes solution as a gas
4. Solvent enters a condenser where it is cooled
5. Solvent condenses back into a liquid
6. Solute remains in the flask

Question 2

What happens in the order of fractional distillation for ethanol and water?

Answer 2

Both water and ethanol vapour leave the liquid mixture
In the fractionating column:
- The vapours condense on the inside surface, heating it up
- When the temperature inside reaches the boiling point of ethanol, ethanol vapour cannot condense any more but water vapour can
- Water droplets fall back into the flask, and ethanol vapour passes into the condenser

In the condenser, the ethanol vapour is cooled and condensed back to its liquid state. It drips into the collecting container

Question 3

What is a condenser?

Answer 3

An apparatus that can cool and condense a substance

Question 4

What is a fractionating column?

Answer 4

A piece of apparatus used to improve the separation of solvents during fractional distillation

Question 5

What does simple distillation rely on?

Answer 5

It relies on the solvent having a much lower boiling point than the solute

Question 6

What does fractional distillation?

Answer 6

It relies on each substance having a different boiling point and uses a special piece of equipment called a fractionating column

Question 7

What does simple distillation do?

Answer 7

It separates a solvent from a solution

Question 8

What does fractional distillation do?

Answer 8

It separates 2 more substances from a mixture in the liquid state