Simple distillation.
- Principle: Simple distillation separates the solvent and solute in a solution. The solvent boils, evaporates and condenses in a Liebig condenser, and is collected as a “distillate”.
Mixtures of miscible liquids can also be separated by this technique, provided their boiling points are significantly different. - Process: The mixture is heated in a distillation flask. The component with the lower boiling point vaporises first, while components with a higher boiling point (and any dissolved solids) remains in the flask. The vapour is then condensed back into liquid form and collected.
- Example: Separation of ethanol-water mixture. Ethanol has a lower boiling point (~78°C) than water (~100°C), so heating the mixture causes ethanol to vaporise first, leaving water behind.
