Question

Calculate the mole percentages of acetone an water in both the receiving flask and the still pot using the refractory indices found. Do these findings support that you have successfully distilled the two components? pure acetone 1.358, pure water 1.333, fraction 1: 1.361, fraction 2: 1.365, fraction 3: 1.3325. Thank you!!

Answer 1

Refractive index of the sample depends on the temperature and the wavelength of light used. If the refractive index of ythe distillate is same as that of pure acetone then we can be sure that the distillate is pure acetone. Here the refractive index of the liquids in fraction 1 and 2 is almost identical to that of pure actone wheras the component in fraction has a refractive nindex of 1.33 which is refractive index of water. This indicates that fraction 1 and 2 contains acetone and fraction 3 is water. These findings support successful distillation of the two components.