Fractional Distillation

Question 1

What is fractional distillation?

Answer 1

Separating a mixture of different liquid

Question 2

What must the liquids have for fractional distillation to happen?

Answer 2

Different boiling point

Question 3

What equipment do you need for fractional distillation?

Answer 3

Same as simple distillation with the addition of:

• Glass beads/rods in the glass tube (fractionating column)
• Thermometer

Question 4

Describe fractional distillation with two liquids that a boiling point of 80 degrees and one of 100 degrees

Answer 4

• Boil mixture
• Both liquids will evaporate (the liquid with the 80 degrees temp will evaporate quicker)
• When the liquids reach the glass tube with glass beads they will condense and drip back into the flask
• The liquids will continue evaporating and condensing and this will increase the amount of 80 degrees in the fractionating column
• Both liquids will rise into the fractionating column condenser in the condenser then drip into the beaker
• Once the thermometer reaches 80 degrees it will pure of the 80 degrees liquid and it will condense and drip into the beaker
  The same will happen for the 100 degrees

Question 5

What are the 2 key facts about fractional distillation?

Answer 5

• If the liquids have very similar boiling points this will be difficult and it will have to be carried out several times.
• Fractional distillation is not used for large volumes of liquids such as crude oil