SM140     Distillation Apparatus for Alcohol Content      circa 1900     Heat

  The liquefaction or condensation of a vapour is the change from the vapour to the liquid state.   Condensation is caused by one of three factors:-  cooling, compression or chemical reaction.   For the first two, the vapour must be saturated while the last method can bring about the liquefaction of even rarefied vapours.   An example is the absorption by certain salts of aqueous vapour from the atmosphere.

  Distillation is the separation of a volatile liquid from a substance that it holds in solution, or the separation of a mixture of two volatile liquids.

  Liebig’s condenser consists of a glass tube fitted in a jacket through which cold water is passed.   The liquid to be distilled is contained in a retort, the neck of which is connected to the condenser tube.   The liquid is heated and the distillate is collected as drops from the cold end of the condenser.

  The process of distillation is used to determine the alcoholic value of wines in a specially modified condenser.   The distillation process removes all solids and produces a distillate containing all of the alcohol and part of the water.   The liquid part is reconstituted as before and the specific gravity gives an accurate measure of the alcohol content.