In: Chemistry
If you used the simple distillation to separate cyclohexane and toluene, will it work? Why or Why not?
Distillation is a chemical process where a mixture of two or more liquids with different boiling points can be separated. It is also a purification process. Types of distillation include simple distillation, fractional distillation and destructive distillation.
Simple distillation is used when the boiling points of two liquids are significantly different from each other or to separate liquids from solids. The mixture is heated such that the most volatile component vaporises. This vapor is condensed and collected.
Fractional Distillation is used when the boiling points of components in a mixture is close to each other. In this the vapors are condensed and revaporised continuously to obtain different fractions. Petroleum refining is through this method.
Cyclohexane has a boiling point of 80.74°C where as toluene has a boiling point of 110.6°C. Because the boiling point of these two compounds are relatively close ( < 40°C) a simple distillation would lead to an impure distillate. In the case of such a mixture a fractional distillation would allow you to separate the two compounds.