Methyl alcohol and acetone can be separated by :

Options

A. fractional distillation
B. distillation
C. steam distillation
D. vacuum distillation.

Answer

To separate methyl alcohol (methanol) and acetone, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Compounds**:
- Methyl alcohol (methanol) is represented by the chemical formula CH₃OH.
- Acetone is represented by the chemical formula CH₃C(=O)CH₃.

2. **Analyze the Physical Properties**:
- Check the boiling points of both compounds:
- Methanol has a boiling point of approximately 64.7 °C.
- Acetone has a boiling point of approximately 56.5 °C.
- There is a difference of about 8.2 °C between their boiling points.

3. **Choose a Separation Method**:
- Since the boiling points of methanol and acetone are relatively close, a suitable method for separation is steam distillation.
- Steam distillation is effective for separating liquids that have different boiling points, especially when the difference is less than 25 °C.

4. **Perform the Separation**:
- Set up a steam distillation apparatus.
- Introduce the mixture of methanol and acetone into the distillation flask.
- Pass steam through the mixture. The steam will vaporize both compounds.
- The vapor will then be condensed back into liquid form and collected separately.

5. **Collect the Distillates**:
- Collect the distillate in separate containers.
- The distillate will contain both methanol and acetone, but they can be further purified if needed.

### Final Answer:
Methyl alcohol and acetone can be separated by **steam distillation**.

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