Experiments
Abstract
Separation of the compound ethanol from alcoholic beverages, such as vodka, involves the process of distillation. Distillation is the separation of volatile substances mixed with nonvolatile substances by boiling the mixture to alter the phase of the volatile substance. The researchers used the simple distillation set up to conduct the experiment. 25 ml of The Bar Vodka was used and 7 ml of distillate was collected before a temperature of 95 degrees Celsius was reached. Collected distillate was then subjected to a flammability test to confirm ethanol content. The percent ethanol was computed to be 24%.
Introduction Distillation is a method of separation for homogenous mixtures, which are composed of both volatile and nonvolatile substances [1]. It involves the volatile substance to undergo a phase change from a liquid to a gas, and then back to a liquid. The process required for the mixture to be heated at a certain temperature in order for the volatile substance to evaporate and the nonvolatile substance to remain a liquid. As the volatile substance evaporates, it will pass through a condenser, which transforms it back to a liquid and therefore separates the substance from the original mixture. The principle behind this process is the difference in the boiling points of each of the components of the mixture. Boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid becomes a gas. The nonvolatile substance remained as a liquid because of its high boiling point, allowing the volatile substance, which had a low boiling point, to evaporate.
Vodka was the mixture to be distilled in the experiment. Vodka is an alcoholic beverage that contains the compound ethanol (C2H5OH) mixed with water. Ethanol is a compound that belongs to the functional group called alcohols. The distinguishing characteristic of these compounds is the presence of the -OH group that is connected to a hydrocarbon segment [2]. The goal of the experiment is to separate the alcohol content
Separation of the compound ethanol from alcoholic beverages, such as vodka, involves the process of distillation. Distillation is the separation of volatile substances mixed with nonvolatile substances by boiling the mixture to alter the phase of the volatile substance. The researchers used the simple distillation set up to conduct the experiment. 25 ml of The Bar Vodka was used and 7 ml of distillate was collected before a temperature of 95 degrees Celsius was reached. Collected distillate was then subjected to a flammability test to confirm ethanol content. The percent ethanol was computed to be 24%.
Introduction Distillation is a method of separation for homogenous mixtures, which are composed of both volatile and nonvolatile substances [1]. It involves the volatile substance to undergo a phase change from a liquid to a gas, and then back to a liquid. The process required for the mixture to be heated at a certain temperature in order for the volatile substance to evaporate and the nonvolatile substance to remain a liquid. As the volatile substance evaporates, it will pass through a condenser, which transforms it back to a liquid and therefore separates the substance from the original mixture. The principle behind this process is the difference in the boiling points of each of the components of the mixture. Boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid becomes a gas. The nonvolatile substance remained as a liquid because of its high boiling point, allowing the volatile substance, which had a low boiling point, to evaporate.
Vodka was the mixture to be distilled in the experiment. Vodka is an alcoholic beverage that contains the compound ethanol (C2H5OH) mixed with water. Ethanol is a compound that belongs to the functional group called alcohols. The distinguishing characteristic of these compounds is the presence of the -OH group that is connected to a hydrocarbon segment [2]. The goal of the experiment is to separate the alcohol content
References: 1. Henold, K.L., & Walmsley, F. (1984). Chemical principles, properties, and reactions. Reading, Mass.: Addison Wesley, pp. 24-26. 2. McMurry, J, (2012). Organic chemistry. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, p.631 3. Bauer, R., Birk, J., & Marks, P. (2009). Introduction to chemistry:A conceptual approach. NY: McGraw-Hill, pp. 22 & 645