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The boiling point of the distillate is normally the temperature of the vapour. If the bulb of the thermometer is placed too high, above the sidearm leading to the condeser, the entire bulb will not be heated up by the vapour of the distillate, and the temperature will be too low. however, if the bulb of the thermometer is placed too low, too near to the surface of the boiling water, the thermometer will show a too-high reading.Thus, the bulb of the thermometer should be placed at the sidearm or just below the sidearm in order to obtain an accurate reading of the distillation.

Source: http://books.Google.com.sg/books?id=qHoWToUx1uYC&pg=PA86&lpg=PA86&dq=why+is+the+bulb+of+the+thermometer+placed+at+the+sidearm&source=bl&ots=JBLp_O9h3d&sig=cY86Ubsrci1WpGedNfoU9x8GovE&hl=en&ei=1yRPSoO1JISIsgP02K2XBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1

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12y ago
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13y ago

It is important to place the thermometer bulb at the correct place because it measures the temperature of the vapors being produced not of the solution being distilled. The correct place is right at the base of the opening from the distillation head to the condenser.

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13y ago

Had you dip it in the solution, the thermometer would have measured the temperature of the direct heat from the flame. However, what we want is the temperature at which a substance boils. Hence, by positioning the thermometer near the sidearm of the distillation flask measures the temperature of the vapour which is also the boiling point of that substance.

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13y ago

If it is a standard distillation, most of the Mercury in the thermometer is in the bulb, and this must be allowed to be in equilibrium with the vapour coming out of the still, and therefore completely below the point where the vapour pours into the condensor.

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Stephen L. Escora

Lvl 2
3y ago

• The bulb part of the thermometer is positioned near the side arm of the Y-adaptor so that it monitors the temperature of the vapours. If it is positioned too high, it will be out of the path of the vapours and read lower than the true temperature.

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12y ago

to completely bathe the mercury bulb of the thermometer so you can get an accurate measurement

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Q: Why is the entire mercury bulb of the thermometer must be below the level of the side arm in order to obtain an accurate reading of the distillation?
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