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Q.What is fractional distillation? Explain with a diagram.

Rajasthan RbseRajasthan Board Senior Secondary Part-I Examination 2026Subjective· 2mImportance★★★★★
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Fractional distillation separates miscible liquids with close boiling points using a fractionating column that provides many repeated vaporisation-condensation cycles.

When the boiling points of two miscible liquids differ by less than roughly 25 K, ordinary (simple) distillation cannot separate them cleanly, because both components co-vaporise in comparable amounts. Fractional distillation solves this by inserting a fractionating column (packed with glass beads, rings, or trays that greatly increase surface area) between the distillation flask and the condenser.

Apparatus/process, described in words (in place of a diagram): The liquid mixture is placed in a round-bottomed distillation flask and heated. Vapour rises into the vertical fractionating column packed with beads/rings. As the vapour rises, it partially condenses on the cool packing material; this condensed liquid trickles back down and meets fresh hot vapour rising from below, and the two exchange heat — the less volatile (higher-boiling) component tends to condense out and fall back, while the more volatile (lower-boiling) component continues to vaporise and travel further up. This vaporisation-condensation cycle repeats many times along the length of the column, so that by the time the vapour reaches the top of the column and enters the side-arm condenser, it is strongly enriched in the more volatile component. This vapour is condensed and collected in a receiver flask as the first, purer fraction; a …

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