Question

• Differentiate between the following

Simple distillation and fractional distillation

Answer 1

Fractional distillation

• Miscible liquids having boiling point difference less than ${25}^{\mathrm{o}}\mathrm{C}$ separated using fractional distillation.
• The main difference between simple distillation and fractional distillation is the presence of fractionating column (glass beads packed in the tube).
• This provides increased surface area for continuous evaporation and condensation.
• The mixture is heated in a distillation flask, and the liquid gets vaporised and condensed.
• One with a higher boiling point falls into the distillation flask and one with a lower boiling point passes through the condenser and is collected in the receiver.
• When the temperature increases further, the liquid with a higher boiling point vaporises, condenses, and is then collected.
• Mixture of alcohol (boiling point $78.5^{\mathrm{o}}\mathrm{C}$) and water (${100}^{\mathrm{o}}\mathrm{C}$) separated using this technique.

Distillation

• Miscible liquids having boiling point difference greater than ${25}^{\mathrm{o}}\mathrm{C}$ separated using this technique.
• When the mixture is heated in a distillation flask. liquid with a lower boiling point vaporises and pass through the condenser, condenses, and is collected in the receiver.
• When the temperature rises further, the liquid with a higher boiling point vaporises and collected.
• Acetone and water can be separated by this technique.
• Fractionating column is absent here.

Fractional Distillation	Simple Distillation
Miscible liquids having boiling point difference less than ${25}^{\mathrm{o}}\mathrm{C}$ separated using fractional distillation	Miscible liquids having boiling point difference greater than ${25}^{\mathrm{o}}\mathrm{C}$ separated using this technique
A fractionating column is present	A fractionating column is absent here
Mixture of alcohol and water separated	Acetone and water can be separated