Experiment #: 1
Title: Comparison of Simple vs. Fractional Distillation for the Separation of a Binary Mixture
Purpose:
The purpose of this experiment is to introduce and compare the two main types of distillation:
simple and fractional.
Procedure:
Set up the experiment under a fume hood that is turned on. And wear a protective lab coat and
safety glasses throughout the entire procedure…
Part 1: Simple Distillation
1. A 100 mL round-bottom flask (distillation pot) was filled with 30 mL of water and 30
mL of methanol.
a. Boiling chips (small pieces of marble) were added to ensure smooth and
even boiling.
2. The flask was securely clamped to a ring stand inside a fume hood.
3. A distillation head (still head) was attached to the flask. A thermometer was inserted
into the top opening to measure vapor temperature.
4. A condenser was attached to the side arm of the still head.
a. Cold water was circulated through the condenser using latex tubing—entering at
the bottom and exiting at the top.
5. A vacuum adapter was connected to the end of the condenser to direct the distillate into
a 100 mL graduated cylinder.
6. The heating mantle was placed under the round-bottom flask and turned on to
begin heating the mixture.
7. Distillation proceeded, and temperature readings were recorded for every 2 mL
of distillate collected, continuing until approximately 50 mL had been collected.
8. The heat source and water flow were turned off, concluding the simple distillation.
Part 2: Fractional Distillation
1. The same 50/50 methanol-water mixture (30 mL each) was placed in a clean 100
mL round-bottom flask with boiling chips.
2. A fractionating column packed with stainless still wool was inserted between
the distillation pot and the still head.
3. The rest of the apparatus (thermometer, condenser, vacuum adapter, and
graduated cylinder) was assembled as in the simple distillation.
4. The heating mantle was turned on, and distillation was carried out while recording
the temperature for every 2 mL of distillate collected.
5. Distillation was stopped once approximately 50 mL had been collected and
the temperature reached near the boiling point of water.
Data/Results/Calculations:
During both the simple and fractional distillation procedures, temperature readings were taken at
regular intervals for every 2 mL of distillate collected. The collected data included the volume
of distillate (in mL) and the corresponding vapor temperature (in °C). This allowed for a
Title: Comparison of Simple vs. Fractional Distillation for the Separation of a Binary Mixture
Purpose:
The purpose of this experiment is to introduce and compare the two main types of distillation:
simple and fractional.
Procedure:
Set up the experiment under a fume hood that is turned on. And wear a protective lab coat and
safety glasses throughout the entire procedure…
Part 1: Simple Distillation
1. A 100 mL round-bottom flask (distillation pot) was filled with 30 mL of water and 30
mL of methanol.
a. Boiling chips (small pieces of marble) were added to ensure smooth and
even boiling.
2. The flask was securely clamped to a ring stand inside a fume hood.
3. A distillation head (still head) was attached to the flask. A thermometer was inserted
into the top opening to measure vapor temperature.
4. A condenser was attached to the side arm of the still head.
a. Cold water was circulated through the condenser using latex tubing—entering at
the bottom and exiting at the top.
5. A vacuum adapter was connected to the end of the condenser to direct the distillate into
a 100 mL graduated cylinder.
6. The heating mantle was placed under the round-bottom flask and turned on to
begin heating the mixture.
7. Distillation proceeded, and temperature readings were recorded for every 2 mL
of distillate collected, continuing until approximately 50 mL had been collected.
8. The heat source and water flow were turned off, concluding the simple distillation.
Part 2: Fractional Distillation
1. The same 50/50 methanol-water mixture (30 mL each) was placed in a clean 100
mL round-bottom flask with boiling chips.
2. A fractionating column packed with stainless still wool was inserted between
the distillation pot and the still head.
3. The rest of the apparatus (thermometer, condenser, vacuum adapter, and
graduated cylinder) was assembled as in the simple distillation.
4. The heating mantle was turned on, and distillation was carried out while recording
the temperature for every 2 mL of distillate collected.
5. Distillation was stopped once approximately 50 mL had been collected and
the temperature reached near the boiling point of water.
Data/Results/Calculations:
During both the simple and fractional distillation procedures, temperature readings were taken at
regular intervals for every 2 mL of distillate collected. The collected data included the volume
of distillate (in mL) and the corresponding vapor temperature (in °C). This allowed for a
