Chemistry: Distillation Principles

Distillation is a method of separation of components from a solid mixture.

The aim of distillation is to increase the boiling point of a liquid.

There are five types of distillation.

Simple distillation is used for the separation of liquids having boiling points ranging from 30 °C to 200 °C.

Vacuum distillation is used for the separation of liquids with low boiling points.

Steam distillation is used for the separation of miscible compounds.

Fractional distillation is used to separate mixtures in which the components have boiling points that differ by a large degree.

Fractional distillation involves collecting separate fractions according to uncontrolled boiling ranges.

Distillation is a process of purification of solid organic compounds.

Distillation is used to separate liquid organic substances from each other.

Distillation

Distillation is a method of separating components from a liquid mixture based on differences in boiling points and distribution between liquid and gas phases.
It is also a process of purifying liquid organic compounds by converting them to the vapor state with heat and condensing the vapors back to the liquid state.

Aim of Distillation

Purify liquid organic substances
Determine the boiling point
Separate liquid organic substances from each other or from a solid compound

Types of Distillation

There are four types of distillation: simple distillation, vacuum distillation, steam distillation, and fractional distillation

Simple Distillation

Used for separating liquids with boiling points between 30 °C to 150 °C
Suitable for heat-stable substances

Vacuum Distillation

Used for separating liquids with high boiling points or those unstable to heat
Overcomes difficulties by lowering the pressure, thus lowering the boiling point

Steam Distillation

Used for separating water-immiscible compounds of low volatility from non-volatile tarry products
Often used for by-products formed in many reactions

Fractional Distillation

Used to separate mixtures with components having boiling points differing by only a few degrees
Employs a fractionating column to collect separate fractions according to controlled boiling ranges during distillation

Learn about the process of distillation, its purpose, and applications in separating and purifying liquid organic compounds. Understand the basics of distillation, its aim, and its significance in chemistry.