2025 CHEM 221 LAB REPORT EXPERIMENT 4:
FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION: SEPARATION OF
PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON Concordia University
LAB REPORT
EXPERIMENT 4: FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION:
SEPARATION OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON
Name: THI HONG LOAN LAI
Student ID: 40293473
CHEM 221 LAB SECTION 53L
, 1. INTRODUCTION:
Distillation, which is a physical separation process rather than a chemical reaction, involves selectively boiling
and then condensing a component in a liquid mixture. It can be used to extract (nearly) pure components from a
mixture or to increase the concentration of a particular component in the mixture. Distillation is a process using the
difference in boiling points of the components in the liquid mixture to push one of the components into a gaseous
form. Simple distillation and fractional distillation are examples. [1]
Simple distillation involves heating a mixture of liquids to the boiling point and then rapidly condensing the
resulting vapours. Mixtures where the liquids' boiling points differ greatly (by at least 25oC) are the ideal candidates
for this approach. The purity of the distillate, or the purified liquid, is governed by Raoult's law.
Fractional distillation is often used to separate mixtures of liquids that have similar boiling points. Fractional
distillation can be achieved by applying a temperature gradient, since each component typically has a different
vapour pressure and boiling point than the others. Fractional distillation is typically used when more than two
components in a liquid mixture need to be separated. Because the liquids' boiling points differ, it is possible to
condense them at various positions along the fractionating column.
The techniques, applications, and effectiveness of mixture separation are where simple and fractional
distillation diverge the most. While simple distillation heats a mixture and collects the component's vapour with a
lower boiling point, fractional distillation employs a fractionating column to facilitate multiple vaporization-
condensation cycles for enhanced separation. Simple distillation is most effective for mixtures with widely different
boiling points, whereas fractional distillation is better suited for mixtures with more complex compositions or closer
boiling points. While fractional distillation is utilized in the refinement of crude oil, simple distillation can be
applied to purify seawater. [2]
Theoretical plates represent the number of separation stages also called equilibrium steps in fractional
distillation. Each plate represents the interaction between the liquid and vapour phases to separate components
according to volatility. HETP (Height Equivalent to a Theoretical Plate) measures the height of the column needed
to produce one theoretical plate. A smaller HETP indicates a column that requires less height for successful
separation. Both concepts help to assess and maximize distillation column efficiency. [3]
2. RESULTS:
The unknown mixture evaluated in this experiment was Unknown #3. The below tables show the data for is
components in the mixture. Vial 1: Ethyl acetate. Vial 2: Toluene.
Solvents 1 (Ethyl acetate) 2 (Toluene)
Temperature of first drops 35 oC 65 oC
Temperature increased gradually to 50 oC - 60 oC 90 oC - 100 oC
Temperature of last drops 50 oC 85 oC
Volume collected 16mL 14mL
Table 1: Boiling points measured during Fractional Distillation and the collected volume of each solvent
Solvents 1 (Ethyl acetate) 2 (Toluene)
Mass of empty vial + cap 15.50g 14.78g
Mass of vial + cap + solvent 19.98g 19.08g
Mass of solvent =19.98g – 15.50g = 4.48g =19.08g – 14.78g = 4.3g
FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION: SEPARATION OF
PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON Concordia University
LAB REPORT
EXPERIMENT 4: FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION:
SEPARATION OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON
Name: THI HONG LOAN LAI
Student ID: 40293473
CHEM 221 LAB SECTION 53L
, 1. INTRODUCTION:
Distillation, which is a physical separation process rather than a chemical reaction, involves selectively boiling
and then condensing a component in a liquid mixture. It can be used to extract (nearly) pure components from a
mixture or to increase the concentration of a particular component in the mixture. Distillation is a process using the
difference in boiling points of the components in the liquid mixture to push one of the components into a gaseous
form. Simple distillation and fractional distillation are examples. [1]
Simple distillation involves heating a mixture of liquids to the boiling point and then rapidly condensing the
resulting vapours. Mixtures where the liquids' boiling points differ greatly (by at least 25oC) are the ideal candidates
for this approach. The purity of the distillate, or the purified liquid, is governed by Raoult's law.
Fractional distillation is often used to separate mixtures of liquids that have similar boiling points. Fractional
distillation can be achieved by applying a temperature gradient, since each component typically has a different
vapour pressure and boiling point than the others. Fractional distillation is typically used when more than two
components in a liquid mixture need to be separated. Because the liquids' boiling points differ, it is possible to
condense them at various positions along the fractionating column.
The techniques, applications, and effectiveness of mixture separation are where simple and fractional
distillation diverge the most. While simple distillation heats a mixture and collects the component's vapour with a
lower boiling point, fractional distillation employs a fractionating column to facilitate multiple vaporization-
condensation cycles for enhanced separation. Simple distillation is most effective for mixtures with widely different
boiling points, whereas fractional distillation is better suited for mixtures with more complex compositions or closer
boiling points. While fractional distillation is utilized in the refinement of crude oil, simple distillation can be
applied to purify seawater. [2]
Theoretical plates represent the number of separation stages also called equilibrium steps in fractional
distillation. Each plate represents the interaction between the liquid and vapour phases to separate components
according to volatility. HETP (Height Equivalent to a Theoretical Plate) measures the height of the column needed
to produce one theoretical plate. A smaller HETP indicates a column that requires less height for successful
separation. Both concepts help to assess and maximize distillation column efficiency. [3]
2. RESULTS:
The unknown mixture evaluated in this experiment was Unknown #3. The below tables show the data for is
components in the mixture. Vial 1: Ethyl acetate. Vial 2: Toluene.
Solvents 1 (Ethyl acetate) 2 (Toluene)
Temperature of first drops 35 oC 65 oC
Temperature increased gradually to 50 oC - 60 oC 90 oC - 100 oC
Temperature of last drops 50 oC 85 oC
Volume collected 16mL 14mL
Table 1: Boiling points measured during Fractional Distillation and the collected volume of each solvent
Solvents 1 (Ethyl acetate) 2 (Toluene)
Mass of empty vial + cap 15.50g 14.78g
Mass of vial + cap + solvent 19.98g 19.08g
Mass of solvent =19.98g – 15.50g = 4.48g =19.08g – 14.78g = 4.3g
