Salt plus water. Two compounds mixed together to form a solution. The water is the solvent; the salt the solute. Students have been tasked with separating the two compounds from solution. One group set up the distillation apparatus you see here. Explain the concept used to separate the salt and water.

Question

Responses
A The separation of the water from the salt is based on the boiling point and condensing point of water.The separation of the water from the salt is based on the boiling point and condensing point of water.
B The separation is based on the temperature needed to change liquid water to a gas and then back again to a liquid: the boiling point.The separation is based on the temperature needed to change liquid water to a gas and then back again to a liquid: the boiling point.
C The separation of the two is based on different boiling points of the salt (higher) and the water (lower). When the solution is heated the water evaporates from the solution, leaving salt behind.The separation of the two is based on different boiling points of the salt (higher) and the water (lower). When the solution is heated the water evaporates from the solution, leaving salt behind.
D The separation of the two is based on different boiling points of the salt (lower) and the water (higher). When the solution is heated the salt is transferred as water vapor collects in the condensing tube.

Answer 1

The best response that explains the concept used to separate salt and water through distillation is:

B: The separation is based on the temperature needed to change liquid water to a gas and then back again to a liquid: the boiling point.

This option accurately describes the distillation process, which involves heating the solution to evaporate the water (the solvent), and then condensing the vapor back into a liquid, effectively separating it from the salt (the solute), which remains in solid form due to its higher boiling point and inability to evaporate under normal distillation conditions.