Answer to Question #125024 in General Chemistry for Avir

Question

During fractional distillation of liquid air, what gases come off first? Those with lower or those with higher boiling points?

Answer 1

The liquid air is separated into its constituent components by fractional distillation. At each distillation the vapour is richer in nitrogen (the component with the lower boiling point), while the liquid remaining contains more oxygen (the component with the higher boiling point).