The boiling point of water is 100°C. The boiling point of acetone is 56°C. Which statement about distilling a mixture of acetone and water is correct
When distilling a mixture of acetone and water, the correct statement is that the mixture will start boiling and vaporizing at a temperature below 100°C but above 56°C.
When distilling a mixture of acetone and water, here are two possible scenarios:
1. Simple Distillation: If you heat the mixture in a distillation setup and raise the temperature gradually, the component with the lower boiling point - acetone in this case - will vaporize first, since its boiling point is lower than that of water. The acetone vapor will then be collected and condensed, leaving behind the water in the original mixture. This process is known as simple distillation and can be used to separate acetone from water.
2. Fractional Distillation: If you have a mixture with a high concentration of acetone and water, simple distillation may not be sufficient to get pure components. In this case, fractional distillation is used. By adding a fractionating column to the distillation setup, more efficient separation can be achieved. The fractionating column provides additional surface area for the vapor to condense and revaporize, resulting in better separation of the components with similar boiling points. This method is commonly used in industrial settings.
So, the correct statement would be that the mixture can be separated by distillation, with acetone vaporizing first due to its lower boiling point, either using simple distillation or fractional distillation depending on the composition of the mixture.