Distillation is a separation technique that uses boiling and condensation to remove and isolate a liquid part of a mixture.

Condensation is the process by which a substance in the gas state is cooled and changes to a liquid state.

A delivery tube is a thin tube used to transfer (i.e. "deliver") a substance (usually in the gas state) from one container to another.

A condenser is a piece of apparatus composed of a tube surrounded by a cold layer, usually cold water.

The liquid that is condensed from the gas state during distillation is called the distillate.

Simple distillation

Science

In the Understanding Chemical Reactions unit, pupils will build on their understanding of physical changes to learn how atoms rearrange to form new substances during chemical reactions (chemical changes).

In the key stage 2 Properties, changes and separating materials unit, pupils learnt about mixtures, including solutions, and separation techniques including filtering and evaporation.

Separation techniques

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

To decrease the boiling point of a liquid.

What is the main purpose of distillation?

True or false? The distillate collected after distillation is typically an impure substance.

It changes into a vapour at a lower temperature.

It requires more heat to convert into a vapour.

What does it mean if a substance has a high boiling point?

Which piece of a distillation apparatus is cooled to condense the vapour back into a liquid?

During distillation a liquid is turned into a vapour and then cooled back into a liquid, the liquid produced is called the ...

A mixture contains ethanol and water, which separation technique can be used to separate these liquids?

 Which of the following processes describe when a substance in the liquid state turns into the gas state?

Which property of matter does **not** change when a substance changes state?

What laboratory equipment is used to measure the volume of liquids accurately?

True or false? The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which it becomes a gas.

Sort the following substances from the one which will boil first to the substance which will boil last when heated.

Where a liquid turns into a gas at the substance's surface.

Where a liquid turns into a gas at a specific temperature.

Match up the processes below to their descriptions

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - equipment

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Simple distillation

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.