Question

What is the basic principle behind fractional distillation?

Answer 1

Fractional distillation

• Different liquids boil and evaporate at various temperatures, which is the basic principle behind this method of distillation.
• Simple distillation cannot be used to separate two liquids if there is a little difference in their boiling points.
• Such liquids have the same temperature range in which their vapors develop and condense concurrently.
• In these conditions, fractional distillation is used.
• This technique uses a fractionating column to separate a liquid mixture's vapours before condensation.
• The fractionating column is fitted over the mouth of the round bottom flask.
• Vapors of the liquid with a higher boiling point condense before the vapors of the liquid with a lower boiling point.
• The vapors that are rising in the fractionating column become richer in volatile components.