How will you separate a mixture of ethyl alcohol (boiling point 78°C) and water (boiling point 100°C) ? Describe the process.
Ethyl alcohol and water are completely miscible liquids and these have sufficient difference (22°C) in their boiling points. So these can be separated by the process of simple distillation.
Experiment. Arrange the apparatus as shown in Fig. Take the mixture of ethyl alcohol and water in a distillation flask. Heat slowly till the liquid starts boiling and the temperature of the liquids starts rising. At 78°C, vapours of alcohol will be formed and get collected as liquid in the receiver after passing through the condenser. Temperature will remain constant till all the alcohol in the mixture is evaporated. When the temperature starts rising, stop heating. Pure water is left in the distillation flask and alcohol collects in the receiver.
