Question

Identify the example of compounds separated by steam distillation method.

(a) Glycerol-spent lye mixture in soap industry

(b) Aniline-water mixture

(c) Chloroform and aniline mixture

(d) Different fractions of crude oil in petroleum industry

The question was posed to me in an interview for job.

The doubt is from Methods of Purification of Organic Compounds topic in portion Organic Chemistry – Basic Principles and Technique of Chemistry – Class 11

Answer 1

Right answer is (b) Aniline-water mixture

Explanation: Aniline and water mixture is separated by employing the process of steam distillation. Steam distillation method is used when the substances involved are steam volatile and immiscible in water. Aniline satisfies both these conditions and, hence, this method is used to separate aniline from aniline-water mixture. Glycerol-spent lye mixture is an example of distillation under reduced pressure, chloroform and aniline mixture employs simple distillation, and crude oil separation involves fractional distillation method.