SIMPLE AND FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION

Faye Olive Ponicano, Micah Louise Rivero, Juan Miguel Rosales,

John Jaycinth Sabio and Darrell Sangalang
Group 7 2G Medical Technology Organic Chemistry Laboratory

ABSTRACT

Prior to the experiment, several test tubes were calibrated into to a 0.5ml mark and were labeled
accordingly from 1-25. After which, a setup for simple distillation was carefully prepared and a distilling
flask that contained 30ml of vodka (Smirnoff) was heated above an alcohol lamp. Next, the temperature
by which the first distillate dripped was noted and collected with the calibrated test tubes and filled up to
the 0.5ml mark. Collection of distillate stopped when the temperature reach 100oC. The 44 test tubes of
distillates collected were then subjected to a flame test. Four to five drops of distillate was placed in an
evaporating dish and was then lighted by a match to test the flammability. The color and odor was also
noted. The residue in the distilling flask was then transferred to a TD volumetric glassware and the volume
was recorded. Lastly, the glasswares used were washed with soap, water then distilled water.

INTRODUCTION

Simple Distillation is the process of separating

liquids of different boiling points while Fractional
Distillation still involves the process but this time
makes use of a fractionating column. The
objectives of this experiment is to separate the
components of an alcoholic beverage and to
calculate the percentage ethanol in the alcoholic
beverage. [2]

EXPERIMENTAL
A. Compounds tested

The sample used was clear unflavored Vodka

(Smirnoff).

B. Procedure

Prior to the experiment, several test tubes were

calibrated with 5mL of distilled water and were
labeled accordingly. Afterwhich, the simple
distillaion set-up was carefully prepared. The setup included two iron stands, one of which held the
condenser while the other supported the distilling
flask containing 30mL of vodka (Smirnoff) and
boiling stones. Under the distilling flask is an
alcohol lamp which provided the fire. In the
distilling flash also rested a thermometer. Proximal
to the condenser's end attached to the distilling
flask was the water outlet and the distal one is the
water inlet.
The alcohol lamp was then lit and placed directly
beneath the distilling flask. The lamp was
continously rotated to avoid concentration of heat
on specific portions of the flask. The temperature
by which the alcohol first dripped was noted. The
test tubes which were previously labed and
calibrated were used to acquire and contain

successing 0.5mL of distillate.

All 44 test tubes containing collected distillate
were subjected to a flamability test. The scent and
color of the distillate was also recorded. Four to
five drops of the distillate were placed in a
evaporating dish and a lighted match was applied
and the color of the flame was also noted. The
residue in the distilling flask was transferred to a
TD volumetric glassware and the volume was
recorded. Lastly, the glassware used were
subjected to cleaning with soap and water and
lastly with distilled water.

Results and Discussion

Table 1 shows that as the volume of the distillate

increases, the temperature also increases until
100C. When the temperature becomes constant
which can also be seen in the graph by noticing a
constant slope, it indicates the presence of
ethanol.
Table 2 shows the graphed version of the table of
values of the volume and temperature. The
constant slope in the graph confirms the presence
of ethanol. The total volume of the distillate is
22.0mL while the volume of the residue is 6.9mL.
The physical properties of the first distillate are:
1). Its in the liquid state 2). Its colorless 3). It
has a clear appearance 4). It has an alcohol-like
odor 5). It produces a blue flame when tested.
After getting the physical properties of the
samples, the percentage of ethanol and the
percentage of the alcohol loss were solved for.

PERCENTAGE OF ALCOHOL
(COMPUTATIONS)
% ethanol =

vol ethanol
total vol

2mL
30mL

REFERENCES

100

100

6.67% ethanol

PERCENTAGE OF ALCOHOL LOSS

(COMPUTATIONS)
%v/v loss = vol ethanol(given) - vol ethanol(experiment)
- x 100
total volume ethanol
30mL - 28.9 mL
- x 100
30mL
=

3.67%

Based on the computations, the percent of ethanol

is 6.67 while the percentage loss of alcohol is
3.67%.
There are possible sources of error that have
occured during the experiement:
1). Reading of the temperature 2). The inaccuracy
and inprecision of the calibration of 0.5mL 3).
Distillate drops were missed due to not having a
test tube ready on time to collect the distillate
Both simple and fractional distillation are used in
separating the components of liquids with
different boiling points. Fractional Distillation
differs from simple distillation since Fractional
Distillation makes use of a fractionating column.
Because of the fractionating column, the surface
area will increase which makes it more efficient in
separation. [3]

From Journals:
[1] Alaimo, P.J., Peters, D.W., Arnold, J., Bergman,
R.G., Suggested Modifications to a Distillation-Free
Solvent Purification System. J. Chem. Educ (2001)
64-65
From Book:
[2] Bathan, G.I., Bayquen, A.V., Crisostomo,
A.B.C., Cruz C.T., Guia, R.M., Farrow, F.L., Pena,
G.T., Sarile, A.S., Torres, P.C., (2014). Labratory
Manual in Organic Chemistry Revised Edition.
Manila: C&E Publishing, Inc p.13-15
From Internet:
[3] Becker, A., How to Explain Simple Vs. ractional
Distillation. http://education.seattlepi.com/
explain-simple-vs-fractional-distillation-3690.html.
10/3/13.
Table 1. Volume, Temperature and
Flammability
VOLUME OF
DISTILLATE

TEMPERATURE
COLLECTED ()

FLAMMABILITY

F1: 0.5 mL

82

Alcohol-like, blue

F2: 1 mL

84

Alcohol-like, blue

F3: 1.5 mL

84

Alcohol-like, blue

F4: 2 mL

84

Alcohol-like, blue

F5: 2.5mL

84

Alcohol-like, blue

F6: 3mL

84

Alcohol-like, blue

F7: 3.5mL

85

Alcohol-like, blue

F8: 4mL

86

Alcohol-like, blue

F9: 4.5mL

86

Alcohol-like, blue

F10: 5mL

87

Alcohol-like, blue

F11: 5.5mL

87

Alcohol-like, blue

F12: 6mL

87

Alcohol-like, blue

F13: 6.5mL

88

Alcohol-like, blue

F14: 7mL

88

Alcohol-like, blue

F15: 7.5mL

88

Alcohol-like, blue

F16: 8mL

89

Alcohol-like, blue

F17: 8.5mL

90

Alcohol-like, blue

F18: 9mL

90

Alcohol-like, blue

F19: 9.5mL

91

Slight alcohol, blue

F20: 10mL

92

Slight alcohol, blue

F21: 10.5mL

92

Slight alcohol, blue

F21: 11mL

92

Slight alcohol, blue

F22: 11.5mL

92

Slight alcohol, blue

F23: 12mL

92

Slight alcohol, blue

F24: 12.5mL

92

Mild alcohol,
yellow

F25: 13mL

93

Mild alcohol,
yellow

F26: 13.5mL

94

Mild alcohol,
yellow

F27: 14mL

94

Mild alcohol, no
flame

F28: 14.5mL

95

Mild alcohol, no
flame

F29: 15mL

96

Odorless, no flame

F30: 15.5mL

96

Odorless, no flame

F31: 16mL

97

Odorless, no flame

F32: 16.5 mL

97

Odorless, no flame

F33: 17mL

98

Odorless, no flame

F34: 17.5mL

99

Odorless, no flame

F35: 18mL

99

Odorless, no flame

F36: 18.5mL

99

Odorless, no flame

F37: 19mL

99

Odorless, no flame

F38: 19.5mL

99

Odorless, no flame

F39: 20mL

99

Odorless, no flame

F40: 20.5mL

99

Odorless, no flame

F41: 21mL

99

Odorless, no flame

F42: 21.5mL

99

Odorless, no flame

F43: 22mL

99

Odorless, no flame

F44: 22.5mL

100

Odorless, no flame

Figure 1. Simple Distillation Set-Up

Table 2. Temperature vs Volume Graph