Lab 6.2 Distillation:Purify Ethanol

[kendact]

Hi!
1. How can I measure the temperature of the mixture in the distillation apparatus? If I can't measure it directly, how will I know when I only have water left?
2. Remove 'in' from Procedure, no. 2.
3. Should a thermometer be part of the Required Equipment?
4. Can I substitute denatured alcohol for ethanol?
5. Where can I get CRC tables?
6. Since I have the recommended 200 gram scale, I have to compute B. in table 6-2.

[thompson]

I don't have a copy of the book handy, but I'll try to answer your questions:

1. How can I measure the temperature of the mixture in the distillation apparatus? If I can't measure it directly, how will I know when I only have water left?

At the boiling point, the temperature of the liquid and vapor are the same. Generally, you'd put the thermometer (3" if it's a partial-immersion unit) in the vapor in the neck of the flask. When the temperature starts suddenly to climb, you've distilled off all the alcohol and are down to plain water.

2. Remove 'in' from Procedure, no. 2.
3. Should a thermometer be part of the Required Equipment?

I'll check.

4. Can I substitute denatured alcohol for ethanol?

Yes.

5. Where can I get CRC tables?

It's the CRC handbook. You can buy a current edition, but it's quite expensive. One that's even several years out of date is fine for our purposes. You can probably pick one up at a used bookstore or online for a few bucks.

6. Since I have the recommended 200 gram scale, I have to compute B. in table 6-2.

Okay. Again, I don't have a copy handy, so I'm not sure what you're referring to.