| In simple terminology, distillation is defined as the | | | | separated, when there is a careful distillation of the |
| method of purifying a liquid by boiling it and | | | | mixture. |
| condensing its vapors. In other words, any liquid | | | | This point is actually the temperature at which there |
| when it is heated and becomes fully boiled, the | | | | is an equality of vapor pressure of the liquid phase of |
| process of distillation captures and cools the resultant | | | | a compound to the external pressure working on the |
| hot vapors, and collect the condensed vapors. This | | | | liquid's surface. This outside pressure is usually the |
| method or process is not a chemical reaction but a | | | | atmospheric pressure. Let us explain this with an |
| unit operation or physical separation. In a modern | | | | example: |
| chemistry laboratory, distillation is a very important | | | | Let us consider a liquid in an open flask. The liquid is |
| requirement to identify and purify the organic | | | | heated. The vapor pressure of the liquid will increase |
| compounds. | | | | where there is an increase in the temperature of the |
| Boiling Point Determination | | | | liquid. The liquid will boil when the vapor pressure is |
| The chemistry teaching labs make use of distillation | | | | equal to the atmospheric pressure. It is known that |
| regularly, for two purpose: identification of organic | | | | different compounds boil at different temperatures |
| compounds and the purification of organic | | | | because each compound has its own vapor pressure. |
| compounds. | | | | It is to be noted that compounds with higher vapor |
| The boiling point of a compound implies the physical | | | | pressures will boil at lower temperatures. |
| features or properties of a compound by which it is | | | | The distillation process of determining a boiling point |
| distinguished. In a laboratory, distillation is used to | | | | measures the temperature of the vapors above the |
| purify a compound. This is done by separating the | | | | liquid and these vapors are the same temperature as |
| compound from less-volatile or a non-volatile material. | | | | the boiling liquid. If the boiling point is used to find a |
| There are different compounds in different points in | | | | solid compound, it is necessary to compare this with |
| a mixture and the individual components are | | | | that of the true compound. |