Fractional Distillation - MeitY OLabs

Learn that fractional distillation separates mixtures of miscible liquids with boiling point differences less than 25 Kelvin. Understand that the apparatus is similar to simple distillation but includes a fractionating column between the distilling head and RB flask.

Pour the ethanol and water mixture into a 250 ml RB flask and add porcelain chips. Connect the fractionating column to the RB flask and clamp it securely.

Connect the distilling head to the fractionating column and attach a thermometer adapter with thermometer to the distilling head.

Attach the water condenser to the outlet of the distilling head and clamp it. Connect the vacuum adapter to the water condenser and attach a 100 ml RB flask as the receiver, clamping it and placing it in a water-filled beaker.

Connect a rubber tube from the tap to the condenser inlet for cold water input and another tube from the outlet to the sink for hot water drainage. Open the tap to ensure water flows through the condenser and fills it completely.

Set the heating mantle temperature and heat the RB flask contents. At 78°Celsius, ethanol vaporizes and rises through the fractionating column, passes through the condenser, and condenses into the receiver flask while water remains in the distillation flask.

Recognize that fractional distillation successfully separates miscible liquids with boiling point differences less than 25 Kelvin. Note that since ethanol and water form an azeotrope, distillation must be repeated to obtain pure components.