CHE 311 "Simple Distillation"

In addition to learning the technique of performing a distillation, you have had the opportunity to observe at first hand the behavior of a reasonably pure compound in the distillation process. You also measured quantities (temperatures) whose magnitudes you did not know before-hand.

Your lab report should follow the format and consist of the following:

Title (be specific)

Your Name

Date

Section Number (CHE 311-0X)

1. Introduction:

• Purpose of Experiment
• Important theory and/or background material
• Structures and/or reactions
• Approproate references to literature (if necessary).

A brief introductory discussion, in your own words, of the physical principles involved in the distillation of a liquid.

2. Methods / Materials: Usually a simple list, but make sure it is accurate and complete.

3. Experimental Procedure:

• Describes the process in chronological order
• Explain all of the steps in the order they actually happened, NOT as they were supposed to happen.
• If you've done it correctly, another researcher should be able to duplicate your experiment.

The Experimental section, in which you describe in your own words the procedure you have carried out. A tabulation of the volume and temperature measurements must be presented. The atmospheric pressure at the time of the distillation, if known, should be noted as well.

4. Results and Discussion:

• Results are usually dominated by calculations, tables and figures; however, you still need to state all significant results explicitly in verbal form.
• Discussion focuses on a question of understanding, "what is the significance or meaning of the results?".

A brief Discussion of Results, excluding details of experimental procedures. This part provides the interpretation of the accumulated data and other pertinent observations. A graph of vapor temperature vs. distillate volume would be most helpful in presenting the conclusions to be drawn from the experimental results. An indication of the relative amount of forerun, if any, and the corresponding temperature range over which it was collected should be cited. The boiling range of the distillate collected in a single container must be reported. As an example, consider the following distillation in which no forerun was collected separately. The temperature at which the first drop was collected was 110^oC. The distillation was stopped when the still-head temperature registered 122^oC. The boiling range of the distillate in that case was therefore 110-122^oC. (Note that the boiling range has a beginning value and an end value. Thus, the range in the example is not 122^o, but is 110-122^oC.) If 5 mL of forerun were collected first, and the main body of distillate (32mL) then collected from 120-122^oC, the 120-122^oC range is the boiling range of the major portion of the liquid. Some comment on the appearance of the liquid before and after distillation is in order, as is any other significant observation.

Note: It is not considered good form to use the first person pronouns I or we in chemistry reports. Instead of “I added 30 mL” , write instead “Thirty mL was added.” (Use passive voice)

5. References and Post-Lab Questions:

a. In a short paragraph, describe how simple distillation separates two compounds with different boiling points.

b. If the thermometer is placed above the outlet to the condenser, will the temperature measured be correct? If not, will it be higher or lower than the actual vapor temperature?

c. What are boiling stones and why are they added?

d. Describe the observations that one would make during the simple distillation of an "impure" substance.

e. What happens to the still head temperature during the simple distillation of a pure substance.

f. In a simple distillation, you measure a boiling range that is 110-121 degrees; How pure do you think the liquid sample is? Explain

g. You have just completed a simple distillation and have made observations of the temperature as the distillate is collected. How would you know whether your distillation was successful and that the distillate is reasonably pure?

© Dr. Noel Sturm 2014