Organic Chemistry Laboratory CH 200L (2012 2013) 2B-Ph Group 4 Experiment 1

The Percentage Concentration of Ethanol in Vodka Through Simple Distillation

Bianca Therese Rivera, Camille Aliana Rivera, Zarah Mae Roxas,
Ma. Rosario Teresa Saylo*, Jean Darlene Semilla and Adrian Yu
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy
University of Santo Tomas, Espana Street, Manila 1008
Date Submitted: July 5, 2012
Abstract
The experiment was performed to separate the two components of the alcoholic beverage,
Vodka, which are water and ethanol and to calculate the percentage concentration of ethanol in this
beverage by means of simple distillation. 20 mL of Vodka was introduced to the distillation set up under
constant heat. Several test tubes were calibrated to 0.5 mL and were used to collect the distillate. The
total volume of distillate collected was 10.14 mL. Based from the computations, 47.50% of ethanol was
derived from the sample.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Introduction
Distillation is a method of
separating
mixtures
based
on
differences in their boiling points. It is a
unit operation, or a physical separation
and not a chemical process. It is the
process where liquid is converted,
followed by the condensation of the
vapor and the collection of the distillate.
This may also be used in purifying
liquids and concentrating alcoholic
beverages. There are 4 distillation
methods: simple distillation, fractional
distillation,
vacuum
distillation
(distillation at reduced pressure), and
steam distillation.
Simple distillation can be used
effectively to separate liquids that have
at least fifty degrees difference in their
boiling points. As the liquid being
distilled is heated, the vapors that form
will be richest in the component of the
mixture that boils at the lowest
temperature. This method is appropriate
for the experiment since there is a

significant difference in the boiling points

of the two liquids. Water has a boiling
point of 100C and ethanol has 78C.
The experiment aims to (1)
separate the components of an alcoholic
beverage (vodka) by simple distillation,
(2) calculate the percentage of ethanol
and the percentage loss in the beverage
and (3) differentiate simple from
fractional distillation.
Methodology
A. Simple Distillation
The different apparatus needed
were assembled to form a simple
distillation set up as it is shown in Figure
1.

Results and Discussion

Before the distillation process
started, temperature was at 35C (room
temperature).

Figure 1. Simple distillation set-up

Several test tubes were filled with

0.5 mL of water, marked and numbered
accordingly. This serves as the
calibration of the test tubes down to 0.5
mL. Three pieces of boiling stones were
placed in the distilling flask and 20 mL of
vodka was introduced. The flask was
heated constantly by the rotation of the
alcohol lamp until the vodka reaches its
boiling point. The calibrated test tubes
were used to collect the distillate. The
temperature of the first drop of distillate
was recorded as with every 0.5 mL of
distillate collected. Collection of the
distillate was stopped before the
temperature reached 100 C.
B. Flammability Test
First five drops of the distillate was
placed in an evaporating dish and its
flammability was tested through the
application of a lighted match to the
distillate. This test was also repeated to
the last five drops. Observations and
results were noted down.

Distillate
(mL)
0.5

Temperature
(C)
78

1.0

80

1.5

81

2.0

82

2.5

81

3.0

80

3.5

81

4.0

82

4.5

81

5.0

81

5.5

80

6.0

80

6.5

82

7.0

83

7.5

83

8.0

84

8.5

84

9.0

85

9.5

86

Table 1. Temperature at which distillate

was collected

As shown in the table, 19

distillates was collected. Each having a
volume of 0.5 mL. A total of 9.5 mL of
distillate
was
collected
in
the
experiment.
Fluctuations
in
the
temperature were observed in the
middle of the distillation process may be
because of the inconsistency in heating
the distilling flask thus affecting its
temperature. The first distillate was
collected at 78 C while the last distillate
was obtained at 86 C. At the end of the
experiment, 10.14 mL of residue was
also obtained.

recovered)]/ volume of the sample}

x 100

Temperature

90
85

% loss = {[20mL-(19.64 mL)]/ 20mL}

x 100
= 1.80% loss

80
75
70
0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.5 7.5 8.5 9.5
Volume of Distillate

Graph 1. Distillation Curve

The Percentage of ethanol can be

computed by the following formula:
% ethanol = (total volume of the distillate
/ volume of the sample) x 100
% ethanol = (9.5 mL / 20 ML) x 100
= 47.50 % ethanol

1.80 % loss represents the

different errors encountered in the
experiment. Some of these are the
modulation of heat, or lack of
temperature control, wrong temperature
reading,
spillage
during
distillate
collection, or loose attachment or
connection of the glassware.

Distillate
First
Last

The group was able to obtain 47.50 % of

ethanol in vodka.
The percentage loss of the Vodka
sample can be computed by the
following formula:
% loss= {[volume of sample- (total
volume of vodka sample

Observation Interference
Appearance Presence of
of blue flame
alcohol
Absence of
No flame
alcohol

Table 2. Flammability test

According to the results obtained,

the first drops of the distillate produced
a blue flame which indicates that there
is still the presence of alchol. While the
last distillate produced no flame which
means absence of alcohol.

References
[1] Bayquen A. et.al.(2009).Laboratory Manual in Organic Chemistry .Quezon City: C&E
Publishing Inc.
[2] http://www.wiredchemist.com/chemistry/instructional/laboratory-tutorials/distillation
[3] http://www.scribd.com/doc/62212912/Simple-Distillation
[4] http://www.chemistry.com