Question

Assertion (A) : Components of azeotropes are easily separated by fractional distillation.
Reason (R) : Components of an azeotrope have same composition in liquid and vapour phase.

Hint:

To separate azeotropes, special methods like azeotropic distillation (adding a third component) or pressure swing distillation must be used.

Answer 1

Step 1: Conceptual Overview:
Azeotropes are unique mixtures of liquids that exhibit the behavior of a pure liquid, boiling at a constant temperature without showing any changes in composition between their liquid and vapor phases.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
An azeotrope is defined as a mixture of two or more liquids that boils at a constant temperature. Unlike regular mixtures, where the composition of the liquid and vapor phases differ, an azeotrope maintains the same composition in both phases. This characteristic makes azeotropes behave like pure liquids during the boiling process.
Distillation techniques, including fractional distillation, rely on the differences in composition between the liquid and vapor phases to separate the components of a mixture. However, in the case of azeotropes, no such difference exists because both the liquid and vapor phases have the same composition. As a result, azeotropes cannot be separated by fractional distillation or simple distillation.
Given this, Assertion (A) stating that azeotropes can be separated by fractional distillation is incorrect, while Reason (R) correctly explains that azeotropes cannot be separated by fractional distillation.
Step 3: Final Conclusion:
Therefore, the correct answer is Code (D), as it accurately reflects the truth of Reason (R) and the falsity of Assertion (A).