CHEM 233 SU20 ∙ Tochtrop

Experiment 2

Experiment 2: Simple and Fractional

Distillations

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 CHEM 233 SU20 ∙ Tochtrop
Experiment 2

Types of Separation Techniques

• Mechanical—differences in bulk appearance

• Extraction—differences in solubility

• Distillation—differences in boiling point

• Crystallization—differences in crystal packing

• Chromatography—differences in solubility/polarity

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 CHEM 233 SU20 ∙ Tochtrop
Experiment 2

Experiment 2 Goals
• What?
– Separating a mixture of acetone and water using simple and fractional distillation
– Comparing the efficiency of these two processes

• Why?
– Used frequently for purification in organic chemistry

• How?
– Perform both types of distillation and compare the outcomes
– Work in pairs, where one student performs the simple distillation, and second student
performs the fractional distillation
• YOU MUST OBTAIN AND INTERPRET THE DATA FROM BOTH TYPES OF DISTILLATION
• YOUR NARRATIVE SHOULD ONLY INCLUDE THE PROCEDURE/OBSERVATIONS/ETC. FOR THE TYPE
OF DISTILLATION YOU PERFORMED
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Experiment 2

Important Definitions
• Boiling point (bp):
– Temperature at which liquid and gas phases of a pure liquid are in
equilibrium with one another
– bp of a compound is the result of intermolecular forces
• molecular size (MW and surface area)
• Type/number of non-covalent intermolecular forces present (see Experiment 1)

• Reflux:
– Process of heating a liquid to its bp, while collecting its vapors through
condensation
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 CHEM 233 SU20 ∙ Tochtrop
Experiment 2

Examples

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Experiment 2

Background—Distillation
• Definition:
– vaporizing a liquid mixture in one vessel and condensing the vapors
into another
– Utilizes boiling points to separate and/or identify mixtures
• Practical applications:
– Essential oil prep
– Purification/isolation of hard liquors
– Crude oil purification
• Image Source: Wikimedia, Creative Commons

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Experiment 2

How Does it Work?

• For a one-component system:
– Kinetic energy of molecules results in evaporation when Pvap<Patm
– Pvap of liquid increases as temperature increases
– When Pvap ≥ Patm, liquid begins to boil

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Experiment 2

Vaporization/Condensation
• Once the vapors reach a cool condenser, they reform a liquid
• That liquid (distillate) is collected in a second container

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macroscale distillation apparatus
 CHEM 233 SU20 ∙ Tochtrop
Experiment 2

What About Two-Component Systems?

• Same rules apply!
• Lower boiling liquid will vaporize to a greater
extent at temperatures closer to its boiling point
(lower T)
– Collect in collection flask (4)
• Higher boiling liquid will tend to remain as a
liquid in the distillation flask (1) macroscale distillation apparatus
– Begins refluxing at temperatures close to its boiling
point (higher T)
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Experiment 2

Two Types of Distillation

• Simple
– Used when difference in boiling points is quite large (at least 30 °C)
– Only one vaporization-condensation cycle

• Fractional
– Used when liquids have relatively close boiling points
– Uses multiple vaporization-condensation cycles

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Experiment 2

Clicker Question
Which type of distillation process should be used to separate a
6:1 mixture of chloroform (bp 61.2 °C) and benzene (80.1 °C)?

a. Simple
b. Fractional

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Experiment 2

Liquid-Vapor Composition Curve

• Used to determine the mole ratio of components at a given
temperature
– Can determine composition of both liquid and vapor phase

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Experiment 2

Simple Distillation Example: Binary System

• A mixture of benzene and toluene (2:8) is subjected to simple
distillation.
– From our graph, we see that this mixture will boil at ~101 °C

110 Vapor
line
Temperature °C

100 Liquid
line

90

80

Mole % Toluene 0 20 40 60 80 100

Mole % Benzene100 80 60 40 20 0
Composition (mole%) 13
 CHEM 233 SU20 ∙ Tochtrop
Experiment 2

Simple Distillation Example: Binary System

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Experiment 2

Fractional Distillation
• A fractional distillation utilizes two or more vaporization-
condensation cycles, in succession, to effect a separation.
• Uses a fractionating column
– provides multiple surfaces for the vaporization-condensation
cycle to take place, enhancing separation

• We will use a Hemple column packed with porcelain

beads
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Experiment 2

1:99 toluene:benzene Benzene-Toluene Example

110 Vapor
line

Liquid

Temperature °C
100
line

90

80

Mole % Toluene 0 20 40 60 80 100

Mole % Benzene 100 80 60 40 20 0
Composition (mole%)

This cycle will continue until the top of the column is reached
The liquid collected after seven cycles is now 99% benzene!
Vapors from the
Distilling flask 16
80:20 toluene-benzene
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Experiment 2

Fractional Distillation Example: Binary System

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Experiment 2

Apparatus

Simple Distillation Fractional Distillation

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Experiment 2

Thermometer Placement

Image Source: Callam, C. and Paul, N. 19

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Experiment 2

Clicker Question
Which type of distillation process is shown below?

a.Simple

b.Fractional

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Experiment 2

Question
The beads are provided in fractional column for:

a. Vapors to generate
b. Vapors to condense
c. Vapors to evaporate
d. All of the above

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Experiment 2

Prelab
• All information for acetone and water (name, structure,
molecular weight, density, boiling point, etc.)
• Data tables, if you would like

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Experiment 2

During Lab
• Write narrative (past tense, passive voice)
– Your type of distillation only
– In your lab notebook

• Draw sketch of apparatus

– Do not need to describe setup in narrative
– Your type of distillation only
– NOTE: SAND BATHS AS HEAT SOURCE, NOT OIL BATHS

• Record data clearly in table(s) in your lab notebook

– Will measure temperature at different time points—use a watch or timer
– Cell phones are not allowed for use as timers
– Record data from BOTH distillations before you leave the lab

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Experiment 2

What Do I Do With the Data?

• Create a graph
– Observed temperature (°C, y−axis) vs. elapsed time (min, x− axis)
• Label all axes
– Plot both distillations on the same graph, but using different colors or
markings.
– Graph will be inserted into DLR

• The greater the volume collected at either the boiling point of

pure acetone (56 °C) or pure water (100 °C), the greater the
efficiency of the process!
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Experiment 2

Safety
• Acetone flammability
– Keep hot plates <5

• Ensure proper thermometer placement

• Hot surfaces/glassware

• Spinvanes/stir bars
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