Distillation

• Do not allow chemicals to come into contact with the eyes or mouth.
• Keep young children, animals and those not wearing eye protection away from the experimental area.
• Store this experimental set out of reach of children under 12 years of age.
• Clean all equipment after use.
• Make sure that all containers are fully closed and properly stored after use.
• Ensure that all empty containers are disposed of properly.
• Do not use any equipment which has not been supplied with the set or recommended in the instructions for use.
• Do not replace foodstuffs in original container. Dispose of immediately.

• In case of eye contact: Wash out eye with plenty of water, holding eye open if necessary. Seek immediate medical advice.
• If swallowed: Wash out mouth with water, drink some fresh water. Do not induce vomiting. Seek immediate medical advice.
• In case of inhalation: Remove person to fresh air.
• In case of skin contact and burns: Wash affected area with plenty of water for at least 10 minutes.
• In case of doubt, seek medical advice without delay. Take the chemical and its container with you.
• In case of injury always seek medical advice.

• The incorrect use of chemicals can cause injury and damage to health. Only carry out those experiments which are listed in the instructions.
• This experimental set is for use only by children over 12 years.
• Because children’s abilities vary so much, even within age groups, supervising adults should exercise discretion as to which experiments are suitable and safe for them. The instructions should enable supervisors to assess any experiment to establish its suitability for a particular child.
• The supervising adult should discuss the warnings and safety information with the child or children before commencing the experiments. Particular attention should be paid to the safe handling of acids, alkalis and flammable liquids.
• The area surrounding the experiment should be kept clear of any obstructions and away from the storage of food. It should be well lit and ventilated and close to a water supply. A solid table with a heat resistant top should be provided
• Substances in non-reclosable packaging should be used up (completely) during the course of one experiment, i.e. after opening the package.

It’s best to find the exact size you need if you want the experiment to go well. You can always repeat the experiment afterwards with a different bottle and compare your results.

This is necessary to keep the hot alcohol vapor contained. Otherwise, you won’t be able to condense the alcohol vapor in the vial.

If you haven't started the distillation process, simply disconnect the tubing and use scissors to trim the uneven edges. The tubing must fit the metal cylinder snugly and be touching the rubber stopper.

If you notice this problem during the process, first extinguish the candles and allow the setup to cool (20-30 minutes), then disconnect the tubing and use scissors to trim the uneven edges.

That's exactly how it should be. The test tube will sink slightly when you put the tubing in it. This is enough to cool the vapors and allow them to condense.

Intense heat is needed to successfully distill a substance. If your drink was cold, that will make the process take longer. Make sure that all the candles are lit and there is no draft.

If you’ve accounted for all of the above, add some ice to the beaker holding the test tube.

When heated, the volume of the air in the flask increases. However, when you extinguish the candles, the air in the flask contracts, and the pressure drops. As a result, the liquid is sucked back into the flask to equalize the pressure in the system.

This can also happen if you remove the tubing from the test tube and place it directly in the beaker of water before extinguishing the candles – some water will be sucked back into the flask.

In this case, try shaking the bottle vigorously or holding the burning splint closer to the bottle neck.