Why is it possible to separate mixtures of liquids by boiling?

1 Answer
Mar 29, 2018

Because liquids have different boiling points.

Explanation:

Every liquid has a different boiling point; for example, water (#H_2O#) has a boiling point of #212# degrees Fahrenheit (#100# degrees Celsius) at sea level, and household bleach (sodium hypochlorite, or #NaClO#) has a boiling point of #214# degrees Fahrenheit (#101# degrees Celsius) at sea level. (Above and below sea level, they would boil at lower and higher temperatures, respectively).

If you had a water-bleach mixture (they will actually dissolve because they are both polar), and you heated it to #212# degrees Fahrenheit (#100# degrees Celsius) at sea level, the water would evaporate, but the bleach wouldn't, leaving you with water vapor and bleach.