Yes, a gas mixture can be separated by distillation.
Distillation is a separation technique commonly used for mixtures made up of two or more liquids.
The process is based on the difference in the vapor pressures of the substances in the mixture.
How Does Distillation Work?
In distillation, the mixture is heated until it vaporizes.
The vapor is then condensed and collected as a distillate.
The less volatile components remain in the liquid phase.
The separation occurs because the more volatile component has a higher vapor pressure and therefore tends to evaporate and condense at a lower temperature.
Types of Distillation Processes
There are different types of distillation processes that can be used depending on the specific characteristics of the mixture.
Fractional distillation is often used when there is a small difference in boiling temperatures between the components.
In fractional distillation, a fractionating column is used to provide more surface area for condensation and re-evaporation, allowing for better separation.
Limitations of Distillation
It is important to note that it is impossible to completely purify a mixture by distillation.
This is because at the boiling point of a mixture, all the volatile constituents boil.
The quantity of each constituent in the resulting vapor is based on its contribution to the total vapor pressure of the mixture.
Therefore, it is not possible to obtain a completely pure sample of a component from a mixture via distillation.
However, samples of high purity can still be obtained when one of the components in the mixture has a partial pressure that is close to zero.
Conclusion
Overall, distillation is an effective method for separating gas mixtures based on their different vapor pressures.
But it may not result in complete purification of the components.
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