Final answer:
Distillation requires a dry apparatus to prevent contamination, ensure accurate boiling points, and avoid dilution of the distillate, leading to efficient separation of mixture components.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distillation apparatus needs to be dry before you begin distillation to prevent any contamination or dilution of the sample. Any moisture present may affect the boiling points of the components in the mixture, leading to inaccurate separation.
In the context of separating homogeneous mixtures such as salt water, the goal is to collect pure water in the receiving flask while leaving the non-volatile salt in the distilling flask. The presence of additional water from a wet apparatus would dilute the collected distillate, thereby reducing the efficiency of the distillation process.
It is essential for accurate results that all parts of the setup, including the Bunsen burner, condenser, and distilling and receiving flasks, are dry before initiating the distillation of a mixture of liquids or a solid dissolved in a liquid.