Question

A mixture of hexane, nonane and undecane was purified by fractional distillation. The first drop to come off the condenser will be comprised mostly of which component? Explain why you chose this component?

Please explain in basic terms so I can really understand, thanks!

Answer 1

Fractional distillation is the separation of a mixture into its component parts, or fractions, separating chemical compounds by their boiling point by heating them to a temperature at which one or more fractions of the compound will vaporize. It uses distillation to fractionate. Generally the component parts boil at less than 25 °C from each other under a pressure of one atmosphere. If the difference in boiling points is greater than 25 °C, a simple distillation is used.

Hexane Boiling point: 68 °C, nonane Boiling point: 151 °C, undecane Boiling point: 196 °C. among three, hexane is having low boiling point so it comes out firstly out of the fractionating column followed by nonane and lastly by undecane components.