Question

Distillation post lab:

1-why was the temperature of the heater probe so much higher than the distillation temperature?

2-what is the same comparing separation by distillation to separation by TLC?

3-even if you heated the boiling flask until it was dry, not all the highest boiling compounds will be condensed and collected. why?

4-describe 2 ways in which the distillation set up could break and describe how to avoid that.

Answer 1

1. The possible reason is that the calibration of temperature was done wrong.

2. In both of the cases based on certain property of the compounds, separation is done. Distillation is done depending upon boiling point and TLC is done depending upon the polarity of the compound.

3. The set up temperature may be lower than the boiling point of the higher boiling point liquids. The main goal of distillation is to separate the lower boiling point liquid from the higher one.

4. The possible two ways are:

a) all the used units in distillation are made of glass. Thus while setting up for distillaton one should ensure that all the glasswarws are stable enough. Remedy: use clamps to make sure all the units are stable.

b) If the proper height is not maintaintained between the boiling unit and the collecting unit, the distillation unit can break. Remedy: Use of labjack can solve this. By adjusting height by it distillation unit can be propely set up.