Separation of Alcohol and Water Mixture Using process of Fractional Distillation

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The process of fractional distillation of ethanol and water is discussed below:
1. Load the round-bottom flask with the ethanol-water mixture, and then assemble the fractional distillation apparatus by connecting the fractionating column to the flask.
2. To capture the distillate, connect the condenser to the fractioning column and put the distillate-capturing flask underneath it.
3. Heat the mixture to above the boiling point of ethanol (80 degree celcius) using the Bunsen burner under the round-bottom flask.
4. Maintain a consistent temperature in the mixture until the boiling has stopped. You’ve finished distillation at this point.
Q; Is fractional distillation a physical or chemical change?
In fractional distillation, separation of a mixture of miscible liquid is carried out by means of heating where the change in the state (liquid to vapor) takes place without any change in its chemical composition. Thus, Fractional distillation possesses physical change
Separation of ethanol and water
As both the liquids are miscible and have low differences in their boiling point, separation of ethanol and water can be carried out by fractional distillation
 To separate a mixture of alcohol (ethanol) and water, you can use a process known as fractional distillation. This technique relies on the fact that the compounds in the mixture have different boiling points. Since ethanol boils at a lower temperature (78.5 degrees Celsius, or 173.3 degrees Fahrenheit) than water, the alcohol vaporizes while most of the water remains a liquid. A good distillation column will produce a mixture of 95 percent alcohol and 5 percent water. This ratio represents the most pure form of ethanol possible with distillation and is widely accepted as an industry standard.
 Pour the ethanol/water mixture into the round-bottom flask.
 Assemble the fractional distillation apparatus by attaching the fractioning column to the round-bottom flask. Attach the condenser to the fractioning column and place the distillate-capturing flask under it to capture the distillate.
 Place the Bunsen burner below the round-bottom flask and heat the mixture to above the boiling point of ethanol (about 80oC).
 Maintain the mixture at a constant temperature until the boiling has ceased. At this point, you have completed distillation