Question

You have a solution of water and pure ethanol. The boiling point of water is 100 degrees Celsius and the boiling point of pure ethanol is 78 degrees Celsius. A. What process would you would use to separate this solution? Describe, in detail, how this process works.

Answer 1

Distillation

Step-by-step explanation:

A solution of water and ethanol are miscible. Hence, they can only be separated by a process known as distillation. Distillation is the process in which two or more constituents in a mixture are separated based on there difference in boiling points. The mixture is subjected to high heat and the one with the least boiling point distills/evaporates out first followed by the next least boiling point.

From the explanation above, it can be deduced that ethanol (with boiling point of 78°) will be distilled out while water remains in the boiling tube or container.