ELIF: Why is a thermometer crucial in distillation? The solvent is going to evaporate regardless so what is the point in keeping track of the temperature?
In: Chemistry
As the lower boiling point portion if the mixture boils off the boiling point of the mixture increases. Thus a thermometer tells you what grade of purity your current mixture is and what you are getting out the other side.
Though one has a higher boiling point than the other it doesnt simply wait its turn before evaporating, the bit being boiled off is never totally pure (though with enough heat and height you can get close)
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