Question

describe and explain how each of the following experimental errors or variations would affect your HETP value and the efficiency of your separation .A)you diidnt collect the HETP sample until midway through the distillation .b)all of your liquid distilled within five minute of the you began heating.C) You stacked two packed columns over the boiling flask rather than using one

Answer 1

The efficiency of separation depends on the HETP value. The effect of the following on the HETP and eventually on the efficiency of the separation would be as follows,

A) If we didn't collect the HETP sample until midway through the distillation, the HETP value would be lower than actual value and hence the the efficiency calculate would also be lower.

B) The efficiency of a distillation depends on the time the liquid spends in equilibrium with its vapor at each HETP. If we heat the system above the boiling point of the liquid to be distilled that is heating it too vigourously, all the liquid would boil at once and will distil together without spending any time at the HETP. This greatly reduces the efficiency of the distillation. If we are dealing with a mixture of liquid or liquid with impurity, this system will be considered a non-efficient process of distillation for the separation of components.  

C) If we stacked two packed columns instead of one over the boiling flask, the number of HETP would increase, and so the efficiency of the system would also increase. We have more stages of equilibrium of liquid with its vapor, which would lead to a better separation process.