Distillation of a Product from a Reaction (AQA A Level Chemistry) : Revision Note

Stewart Hird

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Distillation of an Organic Product

REQUIRED PRACTICAL 5

Distillation of an organic product:

  • Distillation is a common practical completed in organic chemistry

  • For this course, the most common practical in which you will come across distillation and reflux apparatus is the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohol

  • This required practical gives you the opportunity to show that:

    • You can use an electric heating mantle rather than a Bunsen burner for heating

    • Use laboratory apparatus for a variety of experimental techniques and can set up glassware successfully

    • Safely and carefully handle different liquids, including those which are corrosive, irritant, flammable and toxic

The Distillation Process:

  • To  produce an aldehyde from a primary alcohol the reaction mixture must be heated

  • The aldehyde product has a lower boiling point than the alcohol ( since it has lost the H-bonding) so it can be distilled off as soon as it forms

Carbonyl Compounds Synthesis of Aldehydes, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

Heating under Distillation Apparatus

  • The reaction mixture needs to be heated until it boils using a heating mantle

    • Electric heating mantles are used for this because the temperature can be controlled, and because you are using chemicals which are flammable

  • Quickfit apparatus is then set up, including a pear shaped flask, a still head and a condenser

  • A Quickfit thermometer can be used, with the thermometer bulb sitting exactly where the vapours will pass into the condenser

  • A steady and constant stream of water passes through the condenser in a 'water jacket' - it enters at the bottom of the condenser and the drainage pipe removes the water from the top of the condenser

  • The distillate which forms in the condenser drips directly into a receiving vessel

    • The distillate which should be collected, is that which is given off at +/- 2 oC of the boiling point of the desired product

    • Some distillate may be given off below this temperature - this needs to be discarded and a clean vessel used to collect the desired product

    • Stop collecting the distillate if the temperature rises above +/- 2oC of the boiling point of the desired product

Preparation and Purification of Cyclohexene

  • In this experiment an alkene, cyclohexene, will be prepared by dehydration of an alcohol, cyclohexanol, using an acid catalyst such as phosphoric acid

C6H11OH  C6H10 + H2O

  • This is one of the most common methods of preparing alkenes

  • The crude product is contaminated with water, unreacted alcohol, phosphoric acid and some side products

  • Treatment with a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate removes traces of acid and a final wash with water removes any remaining carbonate

  • Addition of solid calcium chloride will remove remaining water

  • The mechanism for the reaction is shown below - you do not need to know this, but you could be asked in a questions to draw in the relevant charges or lone pairs

06486c7d-dd7d-4003-8009-794254709f0e

Elimination mechanism for cyclohexanol

Preparation

  • Pour approximately 20 cm3 of cyclohexanol into a weighed 50 cm3 pear shaped flask

  • Slowly add 8 cm3 of concentrated phosphoric acid into the flask using a pipette 

  • Add a few anti-bumping granules to the flask and assemble the distillation apparatus, so that the contents of the flask may be distilled

  • Heat the flask gently using an electric heater or water bath

  • Collect the distillate 

Purification of ethyl ethanoate

Purification

  • Pour the distillate into a separating funnel and add 10 cm3 of sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, this will remove unreacted acid and acidic impurities in the organic liquid  

  • Shake the funnel and allow the mixture to separate, release the pressure built up in the funnel

  • Carefully run off the lower aqueous layer and then transfer the upper layer which contains the crude cyclohexene into a conical flask 

  • Add solid anhydrous calcium chloride to the crude cyclohexene to remove water

  • Stopper the flask, shake the contents and allow to stand 

  • Once clear, transfer the liquid to a clean, dry beaker

  • A small portion of the distillate can be tested with bromine water to confirm if the product is an alkene

    • The colour change will be from orange brown to colourless

Separation of ethyl ethanoate, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

A separating funnel allows the product to be cleaned and isolated

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Stewart Hird

Author: Stewart Hird

Expertise: Chemistry Lead

Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Topic Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.