Lesson Plan

Lesson: Steam Distillation

Aim :

To study the steam distillation of two immiscible liquids.

Learning Outcomes :

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to :

• explain the steam distillation of two immiscible liquids.

• list the advantages of steam distillation.

• state the uses of steam distillation.

Assumed prior knowledge :

Students should already be familiar with :

1. vapour-pressure curves.

2. the principles behind distillation and fractional distillation.

Underlying Principles

1. Making the invisible, visible.

2. Enabling students to know what to look for.

Time taken to complete the activities : 80 minutes

Differentiation

Questions in the student notes are designed to enable all students to complete the activity.
The pop-up answers are provided for the students to view when they have considered their
responses. Worksheet questions include questions that require recall, understanding and
application of the new concepts learned.

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 1 of 4

Development of Lesson :

No. Steps Strategy Resources

1 Set Induction. • Teacher to quiz students to ensure that
(Ascertaining prior they have the necessary background
knowledge and knowledge.
introducing lesson
topic for the day). Teacher to point out lesson objectives for
the day.

2 Student Activity Teacher to go through Activities 1 – 2 with • Courseware

the students.

• Activity 1 : Mixture of immiscible

liquids

Students get to view how the vapour

pressure and hence, the boiling point of a
mixture of immiscible liquids varies from
that of the pure liquids.

• Activity 2 : Steam distillation

Students get to view how the steam

distillation of a mixture of two immiscible
liquids is carried out.

3 Evaluation • Students to answer questions in the • Worksheet

student worksheet on their own.

4 Extension activity • Students to go through the extension • Websites

activities on their own. • Reference
books.

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 2 of 4

Worksheet answers

1. Mixtures of immiscible liquids

a.

140

120 Total

100 B
Pressure/kPa

80

60

40

20 A

0
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
Temperature/oC

b. 92.2 °C.

2. Steam distillation

2.1 Note : The ratio of the amounts of the two liquids in the distillate is equal to the ratio
of the vapour pressures of the two liquids in the mixture.

mA P M
Using the formula = A A
mB PB M B
1.00 96.0 x 18
=
0.480 5.30 x M B

0.480 96.0 x 18
MB = x = 156
1.00 5.30

2.2 Vapour pressure of V = 101 – 85.0 = 16.0 kPa.

mA P M
Using the formula = A A
mB PB M B
40 85.0 x 18
=
60 16.0 x M A

60 85.0 x 18
MB = x = 143
40 16.0

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 3 of 4

2.3 Vapour pressure of water = 101 – 25.0 = 76.0 kPa

mA P M
Using the formula = A A
mB PB M B

mA 76.0 x 18
= = 0.489
mB 25.0 x 112

mA = 0.489 mB

mA
Percentage by mass of V in the distillate = x 100%
m A + mB

1
= x 100 = 67.2%
1.489

2.4 Phenylamine can be extracted from a mixture of phenylamine and water at a

temperature lower than its boiling point by steam distillation. Hence, phenylamine will
not decompose during the process.

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