Distillation
Distillation
Distillation (/dɪstɪˈleɪʃən/) is a process that can be used to separate a pure liquid from a mixture of liquids. It works when the liquids have different boiling points. Distillation is commonly used in several industries, including alcohol production, water purification, and chemical synthesis.
Etymology
The term "distillation" comes from the Latin word "distillare", which means "to trickle down drop by drop". This is a reference to the slow and steady process that distillation often involves.
Process
Distillation involves heating a liquid until it vaporizes, and then cooling the vapor until it condenses back into a liquid. The liquid with the lower boiling point will vaporize first, and can be collected and separated from the rest of the mixture. This process can be repeated as many times as necessary to achieve the desired purity.
Types of Distillation
There are several types of distillation, including simple distillation, fractional distillation, and steam distillation. Each type has its own specific uses and advantages.
Simple Distillation
Simple distillation is used when the boiling points of the two liquids are significantly different, or when the mixture contains one liquid and soluble solids.
Fractional Distillation
Fractional distillation is used when the boiling points of the two liquids are closer together. This process uses a fractionating column to provide multiple condensation-condensation cycles.
Steam Distillation
Steam distillation is used to separate heat-sensitive materials like some organic compounds.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Distillation
- Wikipedia's article - Distillation
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