Distillation

• What is simple distillation used for?

  To separate a solvent from a solution
• Why is simple distillation useful for producing pure water from seawater?

  Because it separates water from dissolved salts
• What is the role of the dissolved solute in simple distillation?

  It has a much higher boiling point than the solvent
• What happens to the solvent when the solution is heated in simple distillation?

  The solvent vapour leaves the solution
• What occurs to the remaining solution during simple distillation?

  It becomes more concentrated as solvent decreases
• What are the steps in simple distillation of salty water?

  1. Salty water is heated
  2. Water vapour cools in the condenser
  3. Water drips into a beaker, salt stays behind
• What is fractional distillation used for?

  To separate different liquids from a mixture
• Why is fractional distillation useful for separating ethanol from water?

  Because ethanol and water have different boiling points
• How do vapours behave in fractional distillation?

  They rise through a column that is hot at the bottom
• What happens to vapours when they reach a cooler part of the column in fractional distillation?

  They condense when below their boiling point
• How can different liquids be obtained from the column in fractional distillation?

  By collecting from different parts of the column
• What is the first step in the distillation process to separate ethanol from water?

  Water and ethanol solution is heated
• What happens to ethanol during the distillation process?

  It evaporates first, then cools and condenses
• What occurs to the water after ethanol has been distilled?

  It evaporates, cools, then condenses
• What are the key differences between simple and fractional distillation?

  • Simple distillation separates solvent from solution
  • Fractional distillation separates different liquids
  • Simple distillation relies on one boiling point
  • Fractional distillation relies on multiple boiling points