Distillation Apparatuses Using Household Items

• Published in: Journal of chemical education Vol. 76; no. 8; p. 1079
• Main Authors: Campanizzi, Danielle R. D, Mason, Brenda, Hermann, Christine K. F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Easton Division of Chemical Education 01.08.1999; American Chemical Society
• Subjects: Chemistry; Demonstrations (Science); Distillation; Distillation (Science); Distillation equipment; Elementary Secondary Education; Evaporation; Higher Education; Middle Schools; Organic Chemistry; Physical Sciences; Physics; Science Activities; Science Experiments; Science Instruction; Science Projects; Scientific Concepts; Water; New York; United States > US; Chicago Illinois; Demonstrations; Secondary School Chemistry; Elementary / Middle School Science; Laboratory Equipment / Apparatus
• ISSN: 0021-9584; 1938-1328
• DOI: 10.1021/ed076p1079

A simple apparatus to demonstrate distillation principles can be very difficult to build without the specialty glassware found in chemistry laboratories. We have built inexpensive but effective distillation apparatuses from equipment that can be easily purchased at local department, grocery, or hardware stores. In one apparatus, colored water is heated to boiling and the condensed vapors drip into another container. In another apparatus, acetone is heated to boiling with hot water and the acetone vapors condense onto a Styrofoam cup. The Styrofoam cup is softened by the acetone and collapses. Rubbing alcohol can be used instead of acetone, but the cup is not softened and the boiling point is much higher. Both apparatuses can be used in a classroom. Both are simple, cost-effective ways of demonstrating distillation, evaporation, and condensation. They would be ideal to use in elementary and middle school classrooms when explaining these concepts.