12.6. Explain is steam distillation.

<p>Steam distillation is applied to separate substances which are steam volatile and are immiscible with water. In steam distillation, steam from a steam generator is passed through a heated flask containing the liquid to be distilled. The mixture of steam and the volatile organic compound is condensed and collected. The compound is later separated from water using a separating funnel. In steam distillation, the liquid boils when the sum of vapour pressures due to the organic liquid (p1) and that due to water (p2) becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure (p), i.e. p =p1+ p2.&nbsp; Since p1 is lower than p, the organic liquid vaporises at lower temperature than its boiling point.</p>

0 Upvotes 0 Upvotes 0 Downvotes

• • Report Abuse
• Comment