Question

clear solution. To separate the two liquids, we use the fact that ethanol boils at 7890
the condenser. In the condenser it cools down, condenses back into liquid ethanol,
evaporates first and, when the thermometer reads 78°C, ethanol vapour starts to enter
The method used is called fractional distillation. As the solution is heated, the etrang
Some water does evaporate from the solution but as it rises up the fractionating
column, it cools down, turns back into a liquid, and trickles back into the flask.
As long as the temperature remains at 78 °C, almost pure alcohol will be collected
and water boils at 100°C.
and drips into the collecting beaker.
?
Did you know
The condenser is sometimes called a Liebig condenser after Baron Justus von Liebig.
Liebig did not invent the condenser, but he made its use very popular by showing how it
could be used.
Test yourself
1 a) In the experiment to obtain pure water from ink, what colour will the steam be?
b) Explain your answer.​

Answer 1

Answer:

A series of free IGCSE Chemistry Activities and Experiments (Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry).

Fractional distillation is a method for separating liquids with different boiling points.

For example, liquid ethanol can be separated from a mixture of ethanol and water by fractional distillation. This method works because the liquids in the mixture have different boiling points. When the mixture is heated, one liquid evaporates before the other.

In this experiment, we will use fractional distillation to separate a mixture of ethanol and water.

The boiling point of ethanol is 78°C and the boiling point of water is 100°C.