Suppose water contained some harmful volatile substance. How could you easily remove the volatile substance in a laboratory?
If it did not react with the water, standing would allow much of the volatile substance to escape. You could heat the water to remove move of it since gases are less soluble in hot water than cold water.
To remove a harmful volatile substance from water in a laboratory, you can use a technique called distillation. Distillation is a process that separates a mixture based on the different boiling points of its components.
Here are the steps to remove the volatile substance:
1. Set up a distillation apparatus: This typically includes a round-bottom flask to hold the water, a distillation column or fractionating column, a condenser, and a collection flask.
2. Heat the water: Apply heat to the round-bottom flask, using a Bunsen burner or a hot plate. As the water heats up, the volatile substance will start to evaporate.
3. Condense the vapor: As the vapor rises in the distillation column, it reaches the condenser, which is cooled with cold water or a cooling agent. The vapor condenses back into a liquid state and collects in the collection flask.
4. Collect the purified water: The liquid that condenses in the collection flask is now purified water without the harmful volatile substance. Collect the water in a clean container for further use or analysis.
It's important to note that the effectiveness of distillation depends on the boiling point difference between the water and the volatile substance. If the boiling points are too close, additional purification techniques such as activated carbon adsorption or filtration may be required.
Wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and goggles, and conducting the experiment in a well-ventilated area is crucial to ensure safety. Additionally, it's essential to follow any specific procedures and guidelines provided by the laboratory or professional references.