What Is Distillation?
Distillation is a chemical process used to separate two liquids with different boiling points, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. The process of distillation is applied in many types of production and industry.
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History
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Aristotle first wrote about the distillation of saltwater during the fourth century B.C. Pliny the Elder described a process used to distill oil during the first century C.E.
Identification
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Simple distillation involves heating liquid, turning it to a gaseous state. The gas is then cooled until it condenses and forms a liquid once again.
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Effects
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When two liquids with different boiling points are heated, the liquid with the lowest boiling point evaporates first. Its vapor is collected and cooled to create a separate liquid of the chemical or compound.
Uses
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Distillation is used to separate crude oil into gasoline and kerosene, to remove salt from seawater to produce freshwater, and to make vinegar, formaldehyde or phenol.
Types
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Steam distillation uses hot, evaporated water to separate liquids. Vacuum distillation relies on a pump to change the pressure of liquids to convert them into a gas.
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