Question

what would you do to increase the amount of propyl acetate collected by distillation?

Why does the boiling point rise continuously throughout the distillation?

what are the implications in a doing a distillation experiment?what does it mean?What is it used for.

Answer 1

To increase the amount of propyl acetate (bpt= 102 ^oC) collected by distillation, first we have to know the presence of impurities. It is synthesized from propanol (bpt= 98 ^oC) and acetic acid (bpt= 118 ^oC) along with water. So we need to heat it slowly so as to remove propanol (along with water) in higher amount with ester is initial fraction. Then, the mixture contains acetic acid impurity, which has higher boiling poing. We increae the propyl alcohol distillate by heating much below boiling point of acetic acid.

The boiling point raises continously during distillation, as it depends on the vapor pressure of liquid. Gradually the concentration of higher boiling liquid increases and results in increase in boiling poing with time.

The implication of a distillation is that volatile liquids in a mixture can be purified by distillation. The liquids must have temperature difference, so that purification can be done by this method. However, the liquid mixture must not be azotrope. Distillation is used to purify liquid from mixture.