Why is distillation used and what are its purposes?

In summary, the three purposes of distillation are to get the most pure form of liquid, identify an unknown substance by measuring its boiling point, and to produce distilled beverages with a higher alcohol content.
  • #1
jnimagine
178
0
What are the three purposes of distillation??

I only know the main purpose of distillation, which is to separate liquid mixture into two or more products with different compositions...

I can't come up with three purposes! :(
 
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  • #2
Badly worded question - you have the correct answer.
They probably want three reasons why you want to do that.
eg you want the stuff that comes off, you want the stuff that remains, or you want both!
 
  • #3
mgb_phys said:
Badly worded question - you have the correct answer.
They probably want three reasons why you want to do that.
eg you want the stuff that comes off, you want the stuff that remains, or you want both!

1. to get the most pure form of liquid?
2. ?
3. ?

??
 
  • #4
it is a simple method?
 
  • #5
To identify an utherwise unknown substance by measuring its boiling point?
 
  • #6
What about making - fresh water from seawater, making whiskey, separating oil components?
 
  • #7
Commercially, distillation has a number of applications. It is used to separate crude oil into more fractions for specific uses such as transport, power generation and heating. Water is distilled to remove impurities, such as salt from seawater. Air is distilled to separate its components—notably oxygen, nitrogen, and argon—for industrial use. Distillation of fermented solutions has been used since ancient times to produce distilled beverages with a higher alcohol content.
-wikipedia
 
  • #8
phoenixlo said:
Commercially, distillation has a number of applications. It is used to separate crude oil into more fractions for specific uses such as transport, power generation and heating. Water is distilled to remove impurities, such as salt from seawater. Air is distilled to separate its components—notably oxygen, nitrogen, and argon—for industrial use. Distillation of fermented solutions has been used since ancient times to produce distilled beverages with a higher alcohol content.
-wikipedia

I think he may have handed this asssigment in by now... :biggrin:
 
  • #9
DaveC426913 said:
I think he may have handed this asssigment in by now... :biggrin:

lol i know that but the course still goes on year after year with the same questions (CHM138) so if anyone in later years comes across this thread looking for an answer to the same question well there you have it:P
 
  • #10
phoenixlo said:
lol i know that but the course still goes on year after year with the same questions (CHM138) so if anyone in later years comes across this thread looking for an answer to the same question well there you have it:P

LOL so true and thanks soo much for the help! :biggrin:
 

1. What is the purpose of distillation?

The purpose of distillation is to separate a mixture of liquids by taking advantage of their different boiling points. This process involves heating the mixture until the liquid with the lowest boiling point evaporates first, then condensing and collecting it as a purified substance.

2. How does distillation work?

Distillation works by utilizing the fact that different liquids have different boiling points. The mixture is heated until the liquid with the lowest boiling point turns into vapor, which is then cooled and collected as a purified substance. This process can be repeated multiple times to further purify the substance.

3. What are the common uses of distillation?

Distillation is commonly used in industries such as oil refining, chemical production, and alcohol distillation. It is also used in laboratories for purifying and separating different substances, and in households for making distilled water or essential oils.

4. Can all substances be distilled?

No, not all substances can be distilled. This method is only effective for separating mixtures of liquids with different boiling points. Substances with similar boiling points cannot be effectively separated through distillation.

5. What are the advantages of distillation over other separation methods?

Distillation is a simple and efficient method for separating liquids without the use of chemicals. It also allows for the collection of pure substances, making it a valuable tool in industries and laboratories. However, it may not be suitable for separating mixtures with a small difference in boiling points. In such cases, alternative methods such as fractional distillation may be used.

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