# A chemist wants to separate ethanol from a mixture of ethanol and water. Explain why simple distillation is a suitable technique for separating this mixture, and describe the key steps involved in carrying out simple distillation.

> Eduqas A-Level Chemistry — 1.6 Kinetics · Explain · 5 marks

> Ethanol has a boiling point of 78 °C. Water has a boiling point of 100 °C.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Simple distillation is suitable because ethanol and water have different boiling points
2. The mixture is heated and the liquid with the lowest boiling point (ethanol) evaporates first
3. The ethanol vapour moves away from the solution
4. The vapour is cooled and condensed back into a liquid
5. The condensed liquid (ethanol) is collected separately, leaving water behind in the flask

## Key terms

- [simple distillation](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/simple-distillation)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas A-Level Chemistry](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-chemist-wants-to-separate-ethanol-b67e212b) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.