Simple distillation is a common practical completed in organic chemistry
It is used as there are times that a reaction does not go to completion or there are other chemicals produced as well as the desired product
Simple distillation allows you to separate compounds by their boiling point
Chemicals with the lowest boiling point will distill first
One of the most common simple distillation practicals is the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohol to aldehydes and ketones
The simple distillation process
To produce an aldehyde from a primary alcohol, a reaction mixture containing the primary alcohol and acidified potassium dichromate solution is placed into a pear-shaped or round bottomed flask
Anti-bumping granules are added to promote smooth boiling
Quickfit apparatus is then set up, including a still head and condenser connected to the side
The joints of the Quickfit apparatus are often have a thin layer of silicon grease smeared over them to give a better seal as well as to make it easier to disassemble the equipment afterwards
A Quickfit thermometer can be used, with the thermometer bulb sitting where the vapours will pass into the condenser
A steady and constant stream of water passes through the condenser in a 'water jacket' - it enters at the bottom of the condenser and the drainage pipe removes the water from the top of the condenser
Heating under Distillation Apparatus
The reaction mixture is heated until it boils using a heating mantle
Electric heating mantles are used for this because the temperature can be controlled, and because you are using chemicals which are flammable
The distillate which forms in the condenser drips directly into a receiving vessel
The distillate which should be collected, is that which is given off at +/- 2 oC of the boiling point of the desired product
Some distillate may be given off below this temperature - this needs to be discarded and a clean vessel used to collect the desired product
Stop collecting the distillate if the temperature rises above +/- 2oC of the boiling point of the desired product
The aldehyde product has a lower boiling point than the alcohol (since it has lost the H-bonding) so it can be distilled off as soon as it forms
Steam distillation
Steam distillation is used to separate an insoluble liquid from an aqueous solution
Steam is bubbled through a reaction mixture containing the aqueous solution and the insoluble liquid that forms a separate layer
As the steam bubbles through the reaction mixture it mixes the layers so they form part of the evaporating liquid
Advantages of steam distillation are:
The insoluble liquid distils at a temperature below its usual boiling point
It reduces the chances of thermal decomposition of the insoluble liquid
Heating under reflux
Organic reactions often occur slowly at room temperature
Therefore, organic reactions can be completed by heating under reflux to produce an organic liquid
This allows the mixture to react as fully as possible without the loss of any reactants, products or solvent
In distillation, you are trying to separate a chemical or product from a mixture
When heating under reflux, you aim to keep all the chemicals inside the reaction vessel
The Heating under Reflux Process:
Example reactions where heating under reflux could be used include:
The production of a carboxylic acid from a primary alcohol using acidified potassium dichromate
The production of an ester from an alcohol and acid in the presence of an acid catalyst
The reaction mixture is placed into a pear-shaped or round bottomed flask
Anti-bumping granules are, again, added to promote smooth boiling
The flask is placed in a heating mantle or it can be immersed in a water bath for heating
Quickfit apparatus is then set up with the condenser clamped vertically in place
The joints of the Quickfit apparatus are commonly greased as with distillation
A steady and constant stream of water passes through the condenser in a 'water jacket' - it enters at the bottom of the condenser and the drainage pipe removes the water from the top of the condenser
The water is heated and the reaction mixture allowed to boil
The heated is stopped and the mixture allowed to cool back to room temperature
The preparation of ethyl ethanoate involves heating under reflux for about 15 minutes
Exam Tip
These practicals give you the opportunity to discuss:
The use of an electric heating mantles and water baths rather than a Bunsen burner
The choice and setup of laboratory apparatus
Health and safety considerations including the careful handling of different liquids, including those which are corrosive, irritant, flammable and toxic