23.1.3 CIA Demonstration: Distillation

Question 1

CIA Demonstration: Distillation

Answer 1

• Distillation can be used to purify liquids from solids or from other liquids.

Question 2

note

Answer 2

• Distillation can be used to purify liquids from solids or from other liquids.
• For simple distillation, the distillation apparatus consists of a round-bottom flask (the still pot) connected through a thermometer adapter to a condenser, which is connected through a vacuum adapter to a second round-bottom flask (the collection flask). A thermometer is used to monitor the temperature of the distillation. Heat is supplied through a heating mantle, and glass wool is used to insulate the still pot. A water supply is hooked to the valves on the condenser, with water flowing in at the valve labeled “in” and out at the valve labeled “out”. The heat is adjusted so that about one drop of liquid enters the collection flask per second.
• To separate two liquids with similar boiling points,
  fractional distillation must be used. In fractional distillation, an additional tube called a reflux condenser is added between the still pot and the thermometer adapter. The reflux condenser increases the surface area on which the liquids can condense (the theoretical plates), thus allowing for separation of the two liquids.