explain fractional distillation process
Answers
Explanation:
Fractional distillation is the separation of a mixture into its component parts, or fractions. Chemical compounds are separated by heating them to a temperature at which one or more fractions of the mixture will vaporize. It uses distillation to fractionate. Generally the component parts have boiling points that differ by less than 25 °C (45 °F) from each other under a pressure of one atmosphere. If the difference in boiling points is greater than 25 °C, a simple distillation is typically used.
Fractional Distillation:
It is a process of separation of a chemical mixture whose components have different boiling points.
It is an special type of distillation in which two miscible liquids having different boiling points but closed to each other are separated by fractionating column.
In this process, the the mixture is boiled in a round bottom flask, and the vapors of the boiling solution passes along the fractionating column.
The temperature of the column is coolest at the top and gradually increases down as at the bottom it is attached with heating burner.
Now, the components with higher boiling points condense on the column and hence after condensing they return to the solution. and the components with lower boiling points further pass through the column and are collected as they are more volatile.
This process is used for separating mixtures like : water and ethanol, or in production of gasoline from crude oil.