Question

A simple distillation is performed to separate liquids X and Y. Liquid X has a vapor pressure of 180 Torr at room temperature while liquid Y has a vapor pressure of 55 Torr. Which statement best describes the collected distillate? Note: the distillate is defined as the solution that is collected from the distillation process.

It will be equal quantities of X and Y

It will be enriched in X relative to the initial mixture

It will be 100% pure Y

It will be enriched in Y relative to the initial mixture

Answer 1

Distillation: Distillation is a process of separating mixture of two or more liquids having different boiling points.

Simple distillation:

Simple distillation is a process that use for the separation of two liquid sample having different boiling point, and the difference between the boiling point of two liquid are resonably large or other words if the difference between the vapour pressure of the two liquids are considerably higher then two liquid can be more easily sepratef from one another by using simple distillation technique.

Vapour pressure: Vapour pressure of any liquid may be defined as pressure exerted by the molecules in the vapour phase which are in thermodynamic equilibrium with condensed phase( liquid phase) in a closed system. Higher the vapour pressure of the liquid at room temperature means lower the boiling point of liquid and lower the vapour pressure means higher the boiling point of liquid. Higher the vapour pressure or lower the boiling point of any liquid means in simple distillation process that liquid present in higher concentration in collected distilate. Since liquid X has higher vapour pressure than liquid Y at room temperature so collected distilate will be enriched in liquid X relative to the initial mixture.

So option 2 is correct