Question

A student accidentally introduced acetone (boiling point $56°\mathrm{C}$) to a salt solution while diluting it with water. What method may be used to recover the acetone? Justify your selection.

Answer 1

Fractional Distillation:

• Fractional distillation is a kind of distillation in which miscible liquids are separated.
• When a mixture is heated, portions of the mixture begin to evaporate at different temperatures, causing separation.
• To extract acetone from a combination of salt and water, fractional distillation can be utilized.

Method

• The boiling points of acetone $(56°\mathrm{C})$ and water $(100°\mathrm{C})$ are significantly different.
• When the solution is heated, the acetone is the first to evaporate.
• In the distillation flask, the water is collected.
• The acetone vapors are then condensed to produce acetone.