H2 Chemistry Distillation Practical: Fractions, Temperature and Safety
Understand a supervised simple distillation setup, the thermometer position, fraction records, separation limits and precautions around hot glass and vapour.
In distillation, liquid evaporates from a heated mixture and condenses into a separate receiver. The useful record connects what was collected with the vapour temperature and the collection interval. A thermometer reading alone does not show that the fraction is pure.
This guide covers an assigned simple distillation at atmospheric pressure under supervision. It does not supply a reagent recipe, a vacuum procedure or instructions for distilling an unknown mixture. The trainer specifies the materials, apparatus and endpoint. Start with the general lab safety guide.
Understand the separation
The 2026 H2 Chemistry syllabus, 9476, includes distillation in the practical techniques on page 36. It does not expect a large-scale organic synthesis involving reflux, distillation and purification during the practical examination.
Vapour above a liquid mixture can have a different composition from the liquid. Condensing and collecting it can therefore separate material. Simple distillation does not guarantee complete separation of every liquid mixture. A narrow observed temperature range is supporting evidence under the stated conditions, not a standalone proof of identity or purity.
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