Simple distillation works by heating a liquid mixture to vaporize the component with the lower boiling point and then cooling that vapor to condense it back into a liquid. This process separates the components based on their boiling points, allowing the more volatile liquid to be collected separately from the less volatile liquid. Typically, it is effective when the difference in boiling points between the components is significant, usually more than 25 degrees Celsius. The mixture is heated in a flask, the vapor passes through a condenser where it cools and turns back into liquid, which is collected in a separate container, leaving the higher boiling point substance behind. This method is used to purify liquids or separate mixtures where components have significantly different boiling points.
How Simple Distillation Works
- The liquid mixture is heated gradually.
- The component with the lower boiling point evaporates first.
- The vapor passes through a condenser cooled by water.
- The vapor condenses and is collected as liquid in another container.
- The less volatile component remains in the original flask.
Important Points
- Simple distillation works best if the boiling points differ by at least 25°C.
- It involves no chemical change, only physical phase changes.
- It is often used to separate liquids like acetone and water or to purify solvents.
- For components with closer boiling points, fractional distillation is better.
This explanation covers the core principle and procedure of simple distillation based on the boiling point differences and vapor condensation.
