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Chemistry · Glossary

What is Distillation and hydrodistillation?

Also known as: distillation · hydrodistillation

Definition 22.5 School Chemistry — Grades 1 to 12 · Chapter 22 — Chemical Species, Natural and Synthetic

A distillation heats a liquid mixture to boiling, turns the vapour back into liquid in a condenser cooled by running water, and collects this liquid, the distillate. A hydrodistillation boils a plant material in water: the steam carries away the fragrant species of the plant, which separate from the water in the distillate as an oily layer, the essential oil.

Hydrodistillation of lavender. The steam carries the essential oil into the condenser; the distillate separates into a thin layer of oil on top of water.
Hydrodistillation of lavender. The steam carries the essential oil into the condenser; the distillate separates into a thin layer of oil on top of water.
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