SAFE WORK PROCEDURE
LOCATION
Fort Richmond Collegiate
CH42S
Fractional Distillation
WRITTEN BY:
APPROVED BY:
DATE CREATED
Science Team
Troy Scott
Oct. 2, 2013
LAST REVISION
new
PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (PPE)
Safety glasses or face shield must be worn
at all times in work areas.
Long and loose hair must be tied back
Rings and jewelry (long necklaces /
bracelets, etc.) must not be worn.
Close fitting/protective clothing must be
worn. Remove strings hanging from
pullovers/sweaters.
Appropriate footwear must be worn. Shoe
must be fully enclosed. No open toed
shoes.
HAZARDS PRESENT
Flammable liquids being used.
Glassware – can cause cuts if chipped
or broken.
Burns due to Bunsen burner use and
hot equipment.
APPARATUS / MATERIALS
1-Large test-tube, several medium testtubes, thermometer, two-holed rubber
stopper, rubber tubing, glass elbow, large
beaker, Bunsen burner, ring-stand, wire
screen wire gauze, goggles, boiling chips
assigned mixture of unknown liquids
SAFE WORK PROCEDURE
ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS
Equipment orientation.
WHMIS
Proper Bunsen Burner use
according to SWP.
Before you start:
1. Wear your goggles for the full duration of the lab.
2. Check all glassware and lab equipment to ensure there are no cracks or breaks.
3. When testing the liquids for flammability, carefully dip a small piece of paper in the liquid and
light the liquid on the paper with a match. Do this over the sink, making sure that your work
space is not cluttered.
4. Wipe the outside of your large test tube BEFORE lighting the Bunsen burner. If the liquid
catches fire, turn off the gas first.
5. When heating your samples, carefully control the heat, making sure the sample does not overboil.
6. Turn off the Bunsen burner and stop heating your test tube if the sample boils dry.
7. Do not touch the ring-stand or glassware after heating, because it will be hot.
Part A:
1. Obtain your materials and set up your apparatus as demonstrated.
2. Obtain the sample assigned to your group and right down all initial observations of the mixture.
3. Very carefully dip a small piece of paper in the liquid and try lighting the liquid on the paper
with a match (while holding the paper over the sink).
4. Determine the density of a small amount of your sample. Record all values and show
calculations.
5. Using a very small amount of sugar, see if a sugar will dissolve in the liquid.
Part B:
1. Using a small volume (~ 5.0 mL) distill the sample. Use a single collecting tube and heat the
liquid just enough to keep it boiling (but DO NOT over boil). Remember to use a few boiling
chips in the test-tube.
2. Record the temperature of the VAPOR from the boiling liquid every 30 s while it distills.
Continue to boil the liquid almost to dryness.
3. Before continuing, draw a graph of temperature vs. Time. (Using graph paper and showing all
requirements for a proper graph.)
Part C:
1. Fractionally distil about 25 mL of your sample. Be sure to label your test-tubes containing the
fractions, so that you can keep track of them throughout the rest of the experiment.
2. Once your fractions have been collected, test each fraction for odour, flammability, and
solubility of sugar. Recording all information in a neat and orderly fashion.
3. Determine the density of each fraction. Record.
Part D:
1. Distil each fraction into a single test tube, recording the boiling temperature every 30 s until
the fraction has nearly boiled away. Heat very slowly.
2. Draw a temperature vs. Time graph, showing the temperature vs. time data for each different
fraction in a different colour on the same graph.
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS


WS&H Act W210, Section 4, 5
Mb. Regulations 217/2006,
Part 16, (Machines / Tools & Robots) Sections 16.1-16.18)
Part 35, (WHMIS Application)
Part 36, (Chemical & Biological Substances Application)
CH42S
Fractional Distillation Lab
Purpose: a) to determine the composition of a mixture of liquids using the
process of fractional distillation.
b) To identify the substances in the mixture based on boiling point.
Pre-lab Questions:
1. In what characteristic property must liquids differ before we can consider
separating a mixture of them by fractional distillation?
2. The temperature-time graph shown below was made during the fractional
distillation of a mixture of two liquids, E and F, and fractions were collected
during the time intervals I, II, III, and IV. Liquid E has a higher boiling point than
liquid F. What liquid or liquids were collected during each of the time intervals?
3. Briefly explain how the process of fractional distillation works at separating a
mixture of liquids.
Apparatus and Materials: See SWP above
Procedure: See SWP above
Questions (Part A & B:
1. What do you conclude from your graph about the number of fractions in your
mixture?
2. At what temperatures should you shift from one collecting tube to another?
Graph needs to be drawn and questions answered and checked before moving on to
Part C of the lab. Instructor will sign your lab journal at this point.
Data and Calculations:
Report all data in a neat and organized table. Remember your units and follow
rules for measuring and reporting significant figures. Label and show all
calculations made. Any qualitative observations should also be in table form.
Conclusion:
Summarize your findings. Be sure to discuss the original solution and the
fractions obtained. You should be able to research the identities of the fractions
obtained. If identities are unsure, state what further tests could be done to help
identify them.
Sources of Error:
State three sources of error and the effect they would have on the final results.