Question

Methyl alcohol and water

• Give the principle involved in the separation of the mixture
• Give the technique of separation of the mixture.

Answer 1

By Fractional Distillation

Principle –  Based on the separation of a mixture of two miscible liquids, with different boiling points.

Fractional distillation –  It is the mixture of two miscible liquids with different boiling points is heated in a distillation flask when the two liquids separate out due to their difference in boiling points.

The technique of Separation – The mixture of two miscible liquids e.g. alcohol and water have different boiling points is taken in the distillation flask and heated slowly.
The mixture boils are the respective boiling points of the components and the component with the higher boiling point remains behind in the distillation flask condensation. The component with the lower boiling point collects in the receiver, after condensation in the Liebig's condenser.
The fractionating column contains several traps to allow the vapours of the higher boiling point components to condense, thereby only the lower boiling point component enters the condenser and is collected in the receiver.

Fractionation distillation apparatus