Fractional Distillation

• What is the purpose of fractional distillation?

  To separate a mixture of liquids with different boiling points
• How does simple distillation differ from fractional distillation?

  Simple distillation separates a liquid from a solid, while fractional distillation separates different liquids
• What is a key requirement for fractional distillation to work?

  The liquids must have different boiling points
• What is the apparatus used in fractional distillation?

  • Flask containing the liquid mixture
  • Fractionating column with glass beads
  • Thermometer at the top of the column
  • Condenser with circulating cold water
• What is the function of the fractionating column in fractional distillation?

  It allows repeated evaporation and condensation of vapors
• If one liquid has a boiling point of 80°C and another has a boiling point of 100°C, which will evaporate first during fractional distillation?

  The liquid with a boiling point of 80°C
• What happens to the vapors as they rise in the fractionating column?

  They condense and drip back into the flask, allowing for repeated evaporation
• What does a rising temperature on the thermometer indicate during fractional distillation?

  That a mixture of two different vapors is passing over the thermometer
• When does the temperature on the thermometer stop rising during fractional distillation?

  When the lower boiling point liquid is mainly passing into the condenser
• What is collected in a fresh beaker during fractional distillation?

  The first proper fraction, which is the chemical that boils at 80°C
• What indicates that a relatively pure sample of the second chemical is being collected during fractional distillation?

  When the thermometer reaches a constant temperature of 100°C
• What challenges arise when separating liquids with very similar boiling points?

  It becomes much harder to separate them, requiring several rounds of fractional distillation
• Why is the equipment shown in the video not useful for separating large volumes of liquid?

  Because it is not designed for large-scale separations like refining crude oil
• What is the boiling point of the first chemical in the example given?

  80°C
• What is the boiling point of the second chemical in the example given?

  100°C
• What is the significance of the cold tap water in the condenser during fractional distillation?

  • It cools the vapor
  • It helps condense the vapor back into liquid