Using the Fenske equation, calculate the number of theoretical plates for a fractional distillation set up used to separate Ethyl acetate (the more volatile component) from hexane (less volatile component) in a mixture with the following experimental data: n=log(X/Xb) -log(Y a/Yb)/ log α Fenske Equation
Experimental data: l
The following are the data optained from injection of a 1-microliter sample of the equimolar stock solution used in the distillation experiment into a GČ. The percent of the area under the appropriate peak is idicated.
a = 1.6
GC results of the stock mixture used in the experiment
Component Rt (retention time) Percent Area
Ethyl acetate 1.09 53 82
Hexane 1.58 47 18
GC results of a 1-microliter sample after 3 mL had been collected:
Component Rt (retention time) Percent Area
Ethyl acetate 1.09 82
Hexane 1.58 18
a. 3.9
b. 7.2
c. 7.0
d. 3.0