Fractional Distillation

• What is the purpose of fractional distillation?

  To separate a mixture of liquids with different boiling points.
• What is the key difference between simple distillation and fractional distillation?

  • Simple distillation separates a liquid from a solid.
  • Fractional distillation separates a mixture of different liquids.
  • Fractional distillation requires liquids to have different boiling points.
• What is required for fractional distillation to work effectively?

  The liquids must have different boiling points.
• What is the role of the fractionating column in fractional distillation?

  • Contains hundreds of glass beads.
  • Increases the efficiency of separation through repeated evaporation and condensation.
  • Helps to separate liquids based on their boiling points.
• What is the function of the thermometer in fractional distillation?

  To monitor the temperature of the vapors passing through the apparatus.
• How does the boiling point affect the evaporation of liquids in fractional distillation?

  The lower boiling point liquid evaporates more easily than the higher boiling point liquid.
• Describe the process of how fractional distillation separates two liquids with different boiling points.

  1. Heat the mixture to evaporate both liquids.
  2. The lower boiling point liquid evaporates more easily.
  3. Vapors condense and drip back into the flask.
  4. Repeat evaporation and condensation occurs in the fractionating column.
  5. Collect the liquid when the thermometer indicates the lower boiling point.
  6. Continue to collect the higher boiling point liquid after the temperature rises again.
• What happens when the temperature on the thermometer stops rising during fractional distillation?

  It indicates that mainly the lower boiling point chemical is being collected.
• Why is it harder to separate liquids with very similar boiling points using fractional distillation?

  Because they evaporate at similar rates, requiring multiple rounds of distillation.
• What is a limitation of the equipment used in fractional distillation?

  It is not useful for separating very large volumes of liquid.