PROCEDURE

1. Set up a simple distillation

apparatus. Be sure to check
the following details:
a) The
top
of
the
thermometer bulb should
extend just below the
side arm of the distilling
flask so that the entire
mercury bulb is bathed
in the rising vapor.
b) The side-arm should
extend beyond the end
of the cork into the top of
the condenser and the
tip of the condenser
should extend beyond
the cork in the adapter
so that the distillate does
not pick up impurities
form the cork.
c) Clamp both the distilling
flask and the condenser.
The adapter need not be
clamped.
d) Do not connect the lower
end of the adapter to the
receiver with a cork. This
will create a closed
system,
and
an

RESULTS
EXPLANATION
PURIFICATION OF LIQUIDS BY DISTILLATION

CONCLUSION

Simple distillation can be used

effectively to separate liquids that
have at least fifty degrees
difference in their boiling points. As
the liquid being distilled is heated,
the vapors that form will be richest
in the component of the mixture
that
boils
at
the
lowest
temperature. By carefully watching
the temperature in the distillation
flask, it is possible to affect a
reasonably good separation. The
(1st Container): It contains 90 mL of
temperature will continue to
distilled water with the temperature
increase until the boiling point of
ranging from 65 C to 74 C.
the next-lowest-boiling compound
is
approached.
When
the
temperature
again
stabilizes,
another pure fraction of the
distillate can be collected. This
fraction of distillate will be primarily
the compound that boils at the
second lowest temperature. This
process can be repeated until all
the fractions of the original mixture
have been separated.

(2nd Container): It contains 20 mL

of distilled water with the

explosion might occur

when the system is
heated.
e) Circulate water through
the condenser prior to
distillation. Water enters
the lower portion of the
condenser and exits
from the upper portion.
f) Add 2 or 3 boiling chips
to the distilling flask to
prevent
any
major
amount of superheating,
which causes bumping.
g) HAVE
YOUR
LABORATORY
INSTRUCTOR CHECK
YOUR
DISTILLATION
SET
UP
BEFORE
APPLYING ANY HEAT.
2. Remove the thermometer
with its cork and, by means
of a funnel, add 30 mL of
acetone and 30 mL of water
to the distilling flask.
3. Number and label three 50
mL Erlenmeyer flasks for
collecting various fractions
as follows:
I.
65 74 C
II.
75 84 C

temperature from 75 C to 84 C.

(3rd Container): It contains 39.5 mL

of distilled water with the
temperature from 85 C to 94 C.

III.

85 94 C

(The label for the three container)

4. Gently heat the flask until
the liquid begins to boil.
When the liquid begins to
drip into the receiver, adjust
the height of the flame so
that the distillate collects
steadily at the rate of
approximately 1 drop every
2 seconds.
5. Change the receiving flask
rapidly at the specified
temperature intervals shown
in step 3.
A drop in temperature may
occur when most of the
acetone has distilled. If the
temperature drops at any
time during the distillation,
increase the heat.
6. Continue the distillation until
the temperature reaches 95
C, then shut off the Bunsen
burner.
7. Use a graduated cylinder to
measure the volume of the

(Heating the flask)

distillate obtained in each

fraction and the residue
remaining in the distilling
flask. Record your results
as follows.

(The three container containing the

distilled water)