In the preparation of acetaldehyde from ethyl alcohol, it is distilled out as soon as it is formed. Explain.

Explanation

Ethyl alcohol on oxidation , first gives acetaldehyde and then acetic acid on further oxidation.
`underset("Ethyl alcohol")(CH_(3)CH_(2)OH) underset(K_(2)Cr_(2)O_(7)//H^(+))overset([O])rarr underset("Acetaldehyde")(CH_(3)CHO) underset(K_(2)Cr_(2)O_(7)//H^(+))overset([O])rarr underset("Acetic acid")(CH_(3)COOH)`
In order to prevent the oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetic acid it is distilled out as soon as it is formed. This is possible because boiling point of aldehyde is always lower than the boiling point of corresponding alcohol.