# A student wants to separate ethanol from a mixture of ethanol and water. Describe how simple distillation can be used to obtain a sample of ethanol from the mixture, and explain why this technique works for this separation.

> Eduqas A-Level Chemistry — 1.5 Energetics · Describe · 5 marks

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

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. The mixture is heated
2. Ethanol evaporates / turns to vapour first because it has the lower boiling point (78 °C)
3. The ethanol vapour moves into / through a condenser
4. The vapour is cooled and condenses back into a liquid
5. Simple distillation works because ethanol and water have different boiling points, so only the ethanol vaporises at 78 °C, leaving water behind in the flask

## Key terms

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

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-wants-to-separate-ethanol-d15779fd) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.