Editing Distillation (section)

===Simple distillation===
[[File:Simple distillation apparatus.svg|300 px|thumb|right|Schematic of a simple distillation setup.]]
In simple distillation, the vapor is immediately channeled into a condenser. Consequently, the distillate is not pure but rather its composition is identical to the composition of the vapors at the given temperature and pressure. That concentration follows [[Raoult's law]].

As a result, simple distillation is effective only when the liquid boiling points differ greatly (rule of thumb is 25&nbsp;°C)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080908000656/http://www.iupac.org/didac/Didac%20Eng/Didac05/Content/ST07.htm ST07 Separation of liquid–liquid mixtures (solutions)], DIDAC by [[IUPAC]]</ref> or when separating liquids from non-volatile solids or oils. For these cases, the vapor pressures of the components are usually different enough that the distillate may be sufficiently pure for its intended purpose.

A cutaway schematic of a simple distillation operation is shown at right. The starting liquid 15 in the boiling flask 2 is heated by a combined [[hotplate]] and [[magnetic stirrer]] 13 via a [[silicone oil]] bath (orange, 14). The vapor flows through a short [[Vigreux column]] 3, then through a [[Liebig condenser]] 5, is cooled by water (blue) that circulates through ports 6 and 7. The condensed liquid drips into the receiving flask 8, sitting in a cooling bath (blue, 16). The adapter 10 has a connection 9 that may be fitted to a vacuum pump. The components are connected by [[ground glass joint]]s.