Definition for Simple distillation
From Biology Forums Dictionary
Simple Distillation Process
The impure liquid or a mixture of two liquids is taken in a distillation flask fitted with a thermometer and a condenser. The flask is heated on a sand bath, on a wire gauze or in a water bath. The more volatile liquid, i.e. the one having a lower boiling point, boils first and the vapors distill over from the outlet near the top. These vapors pass through the condenser and get condensed into the liquid. This condensed liquid collected in a receiver is called the distillate. The less volatile liquid, i.e. the one having a higher boiling point, gets left behind in the distillation flask. To avoid bumping of liquid, a few glass beads or porcelain pieces are placed in the distillation flask.
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.
