Question

List 4 factors that can change the degree of separation when distilling a mixture containing two components

Answer 1

Four factors that can affect the separation degree during distillation of a mixture are the boiling point differences, distillation pressure, rate of heating, and using a fractionating column.

Step-by-step explanation:

When distilling a mixture containing two components, four factors that can change the degree of separation are:

• The difference in boiling points of the substances involved.
• The pressure at which distillation is performed, as it affects the boiling points.
• The rate of heating, which can influence the separation efficiency.
• The presence of a fractionating column in the apparatus, which improves the separation of components with close boiling points.

Distillation exploits the differences in volatility to separate components in a mixture. Especially in the distillation of solutions, Raoult's law can illustrate how the vapor pressure over a mixture is enriched in the more volatile component, allowing for effective separation when the mixture is heated, vaporized, and then condensed.