Name: ___________________________________

Period: ______

Separating Mixtures Using

Distillation
Learning Objective: Students will be able to perform a simple distillation.
Concept: Distillation is a way of separating a mixtures based on their boiling point. In
this experiment, you will be given a hand boiler, which has a mixture of alcohol and food
coloring inside of it. Your goal in performing this lab is to separate the alcohol (which is
actually clear) and has a very low boiling point from the food coloring (which is highly
colored) and has a very high boiling point.

Be extremely careful with the glass demonstration devices!! They

are extremely fragile!! If you break one you owe me $15.
Directions and Questions:
01. In the general diagram to the right. Sketch the initial liquid level in the
device.
02. Warm bulb #2, by holding it in your hand.
Observations:
What color is the initial liquid inside of your device?
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What happens to the liquid as a result of holding the bulb in your hand?
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What is one difference between gases and liquid?
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Exothermic processes release heat and feel warm. Endothermic processes absorb heat
and feel cold. Do you think this process is exothermic or endothermic? Why?
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Volatile liquids are easy to boil. Do you think this substance is volatile?
______________________________________________________________________

Chemistry

1.

Mr. Saucedo

Name: ___________________________________

Period: ______

03. Get all of the liquid into the bottom of bulb #2. This might take some time
04. Once you get all the liquid in bulb #2, flip the device upside down so that bulb #1 is
on the bottom.
05. Carefully surround the bulb #1 with a cup of ice. Do not push it down into the ice!
06. Keep bulb #2 warm by placing your hands over the bulb.
Follow Up Questions and Observation:
How do your hands feel after holding onto bulb #2? Is this exothermic or endothermic?
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After a couple of minutes of warming bulb #2 with your hands, take a look at bulb #1
(the bulb placed in the ice). What substance starts to appear in the bottom of the bulb?
How can you tell?
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What happens to vapor when it is cooled down quickly by something like ice?
______________________________________________________________________
Why do you think it is important to have one portion of the bulb in ice and the other
portion being warmed?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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In order to perform a distillation it is normally important that the two substances that you
are separating from each other have very large differences in boiling point and/or one of
them is highly volatile. Why do you think this is the case?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Chemistry

2.

Mr. Saucedo