Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 10
AQA
Higher

Distillation: simple distillation

I can identify equipment needed to carry out simple distillation and explain how the process works.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
New
New
Year 10
AQA
Higher

Distillation: simple distillation

I can identify equipment needed to carry out simple distillation and explain how the process works.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Distillation separates a soluble substance from its solvent based on differences in boiling points.
  2. Distillation requires multiple pieces of apparatus which work in conjunction with each other.
  3. The processes of boiling and condensing are involved in the process of distillation.
  4. Simple distillation is used primarily to separate mixtures of only two components.

Keywords

  • Boiling - Boiling occurs when a substance in the liquid state is heated and changes to the gas state with gas bubbles formed.

  • Condensation - Condensation is the process by which a substance in the gas state is cooled and changes to a liquid state.

  • Distillation - Distillation is a separation technique that uses boiling and condensation to remove and isolate a liquid component of a mixture.

  • Condenser - A condenser is a piece of apparatus composed of a tube surrounded by a cold layer, usually cold water.

  • Distillate - A distillate is the condensed component that has been isolated during distillation.

Common misconception

Students struggle to understand gas state; thinking solids, liquids and gases as 'types' of matter.

Refer to/use particle models to help clarify different states of matter and use these to describe why separation techniques work.

Try demonstrating the distillation of cherry cola as an alternative to the classics copper sulfate solution or ink and water. The oil should distill before the water.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following processes describes when a substance in the liquid state turns into the gas state?
melting
Correct answer: boiling
condensing
Correct answer: evaporating
freezing
Q2.
Which property of matter does not change when a substance changes state?
shape
volume
Correct answer: mass
state
Q3.
What laboratory equipment is used to measure the volume of liquids accurately?
Bunsen burner
beaker
Correct answer: measuring cylinder
balance
conical flask
Q4.
True or false? The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which it becomes a gas.
Correct answer: true
false
Q5.
Sort the following substances from the one which will boil first to the substance which will boil last when heated.
1 - ethanol boils at 78°C
2 - water boils at 100°C
3 - sodium chloride boils at 1465°C
4 - aluminium boils at 2519°C
Q6.
Match up the processes below to their descriptions.
Correct Answer:evaporation,where a liquid turns into a gas at the substance's surface

where a liquid turns into a gas at the substance's surface

Correct Answer:boiling,where a liquid turns into a gas at a specific temperature

where a liquid turns into a gas at a specific temperature

Correct Answer:condensation,where a gas is changed into a liquid

where a gas is changed into a liquid

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the purpose of simple distillation?
to mix substances
Correct answer: to separate substances based on boiling points
to increase the boiling point of a liquid
to change the colour of the solution
Q2.
True or false? The condenser in a distillation setup is used to heat the mixture.
true
Correct answer: false
Q3.
What state is the distillate in when collected?
solid
Correct answer: liquid
gas
Q4.
During distillation, when does a substance with a lower boiling point boil?
after the substance with a higher boiling point
Correct answer: before the substance with a higher boiling point
at the same time as the substance with a higher boiling point
never
Q5.
True or false? Simple distillation is best used for separating mixtures with significantly different boiling points.
Correct answer: true
false
Q6.
Distillation separates a soluble substance from its solvent based on differences in .
Correct Answer: boiling point, boiling, boiling points