Question

Which of the following mixtures would be suitable to separate by steam distillation? More than one answer may be correct.

a. A mixture containing large organic molecules.
b. A mixture containing polar liquids with high boiling points.
c. A mixture containing thermally unstable organic molecules.
d. A mixture containing thermally stable organic molecules.
e. None of the above.

Answer 1

Suitable mixtures for steam distillation include those with large organic molecules or thermally unstable organic molecules. This technique uses differences in volatility and boiling points for separation.Tge correct options are a,c.

Step-by-step explanation:

Steam distillation is a separation technique for mixtures based on differences in volatility and boiling points of their components. For mixtures suitable for separation by steam distillation, the following options can be considered as correct:

• (a) A mixture containing large organic molecules.
• (c) A mixture containing thermally unstable organic molecules.

Molecules in a mixture that can be separated by steam distillation should either be large and heavy (hence having high boiling points), making their vaporization easier at steam temperatures, or they should be thermally unstable so that they can be distilled at lower temperatures without decomposing. Thermally stable organic molecules can also be separated by steam distillation only if they have high boiling points.

The correct options for separation by steam distillation are: (a) A mixture containing large organic molecules and (c) A mixture containing thermally unstable organic molecules.