Free Science Lessons: Simple Distillation

Introduction

• Purpose: Learn about the physical separation technique known as simple distillation.
• Context: Previous video covered crystallization to separate a solid from a liquid.

Crystallization Recap

• Example: Sodium chloride in water (aqueous solution).
• Process: Gently heat to evaporate the liquid, leaving behind crystals of the solid.

Simple Distillation

• Problem: Need to separate a dissolved solid from a liquid while retaining the liquid.
• Solution: Use simple distillation.

Simple vs. Fractional Distillation

• Simple Distillation: Used for separating a solid from a liquid.
• Fractional Distillation: To be covered in the next video.

Process of Simple Distillation

1. Evaporation
   • Heat the liquid to turn it into vapor.
2. Condensation
   • Cool the vapor to turn it back into a liquid.

Apparatus

• Flask: Contains the solution.
• Glass Tube: Connects to the flask.
• Condenser:
  • Surrounds the glass tube.
  • Cold water runs through, keeping it cool.
• Thermometer: Measures temperature changes.

Steps in Simple Distillation

1. Heating
   • Use a Bunsen burner to heat the solution.
   • Liquid evaporates and vapor rises in the glass tube.
2. Thermometer Reading
   • Increase as vapor rises.
3. Boiling
   • Continue heating until solution boils.
4. Condensation
   • Vapor enters the condenser.
   • Cold water causes vapor to condense to liquid.
   • Liquid is collected in a beaker.

Outcome

• In Flask: Crystals of the solid.
• In Beaker: Collected liquid.

Applications

• Example: Producing drinking water from seawater.
• Limitations: High energy requirement makes it impractical for large-scale drinking water production.

Additional Resources

• Revision workbook available for further practice.