How can a mixture of liquids be separated?
Fractional distillation. Read about that.
To separate a mixture of liquids, such as a solution or a mixture of two immiscible liquids, fractional distillation is commonly employed. This process takes advantage of the differences in boiling points of the liquids in the mixture. Here is a step-by-step explanation of how fractional distillation works:
1. Set up a distillation apparatus: You will need a distillation flask to hold the mixture, a fractionating column to achieve better separation, a condenser to cool and convert the vapor back into liquid form, and a collection flask to collect the separated components.
2. Heat the mixture: Apply heat to the distillation flask. As the temperature increases, the liquid with the lower boiling point will start to vaporize first, while the liquid with the higher boiling point remains in liquid form.
3. Vaporize and separate: The vapor produced from the boiling liquid rises up the fractionating column. The fractionating column, which contains several stages or trays, provides a large surface area for vapor-liquid contact. As the vapors rise through the column, they cool down and condense. The condensed liquid then flows back down into the distillation flask.
4. Collect the separated components: The condensed liquid that collects in the collection flask will primarily consist of the lower boiling point liquid, as it vaporizes and condenses more readily. The higher boiling point liquid will remain in the distillation flask and can be collected separately once the temperature reaches its boiling point.
Fractional distillation allows for the separation of components with even relatively close boiling points. The process relies on repeated vaporization and condensation, achieving a more efficient separation compared to simple distillation.