Fractional Distillation Set-up

The photo below is of a fractional distillation set-up. The only difference between this set-up and that of a simple distillation set-up is the inclusion of a fractionating column (see close-up below) between the round bottom flask and the Y-adaptor. In the illustration, the fractionating column is a regular condensor filled with glass beads. Note that you do not hook the tubing connectors on this fractionating column/condensor to tubing and water.

The photo below is of two different styles of fractionating column. The upper one is an ordinary condenser filled with small glass beads. This is the style you will use in the organic chemistry teaching labs. The lower one is a Vigreux column.


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