C1 - Simple Distillation

What does simple distillation separate?

A liquid from a dissolved solid in a solution.

When would you use simple distillation instead of crystallisation?

When you want to keep both the dissolved solid and the liquid.

What are the two main steps in simple distillation?

Evaporation and condensation.

What happens during evaporation in simple distillation?

The liquid is heated and turns into a vapor.

What happens during condensation in simple distillation?

The vapor is cooled and turns back into a liquid.

What type of mixture does simple distillation separate?

A solution made of a liquid and a soluble solid.

What equipment is needed for simple distillation?

Flask, condenser, thermometer, heat source (e.g. Bunsen burner), beaker.

What is the condenser in simple distillation?

A glass tube surrounded by a jacket where cold water flows to cool the vapor.

Why is cold water run through the condenser?

To cool the vapor so it condenses back into a liquid.

Where does the cold water enter and leave the condenser?

It enters at the top and exits at the bottom.

What is collected at the end of simple distillation?

The purified liquid (distillate) in the beaker and solid crystals in the flask.

Why do we use a thermometer in simple distillation?

To monitor the boiling point and make sure the correct substance is evaporating.

What happens to the temperature as the liquid starts to evaporate?

It rises and stabilizes at the boiling point of the liquid.

What happens to the solution as it is heated during simple distillation?

The liquid boils and turns into vapor, leaving the solid behind.

Where does the vapor go after evaporation?

It rises, passes through the condenser, and turns back into liquid.

What is the name for the collected liquid in simple distillation?

The distillate.

What is left behind in the distillation flask?

The dissolved solid (now as solid crystals).

Give an example of a use of simple distillation.

Separating pure water from salt water.

Why is simple distillation not usually used to make drinking water?

It requires a large amount of energy.

Why is simple distillation considered a physical separation technique?

Because it doesn't involve any chemical reactions or changes.

What is one key limitation of simple distillation?

It only works well when the boiling points of the components are very different.

Can simple distillation separate two liquids?

No, for that you need fractional distillation.

Why does the condenser stay cold during distillation?

Because cold water is circulated through it constantly.

What happens to the salt in sea water during simple distillation?

It stays in the flask as the water evaporates and is collected separately.

What is meant by "aqueous solution"?

A solution where a substance is dissolved in water (state symbol: aq).

What does the process of simple distillation begin with?

Heating the solution until the liquid evaporates.

How is the collected liquid different from the original solution?

It is pure and free from the dissolved solid.

What is the main energy requirement in simple distillation?

Heating the solution to boiling point.

What causes the vapor to condense in simple distillation?

Cooling in the condenser.

How does simple distillation purify a liquid?

By separating it from non-volatile dissolved solids through evaporation and condensation.