Distillation, 16th century woodcut
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Distillation, 16th century woodcut
Distillation. Coloured 16th century woodcut depicting apparatus used for distillation. Two liquids to be distilled are being heated in large flasks (bottom left and right) where they boil and turn into gases. The column in the middle is hollow and filled with water to cool and condense the gases as they rise up it. The resulting distillations are collected in the two flasks at upper left and right. This design is from the book Liber de arte destillandi, published by Hieronymus Brunschwyk in Strasbourg in 1500, and was probably never actually carried out in practice
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6273733
© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
16th Century Apparatus Boiling Chemist Chemists Column Condenser Condensing Device Distillation Distillery Distilling Flask Flasks German Glass Heating History Of Science Hypothetical Latin Liquid Liquids Separating Strasbourg Wood Cut Working 1500 Distill Strassburg
EDITORS COMMENTS
This 16th-century woodcut print showcases the intricate apparatus used for distillation. The vibrant colors bring to life the historical process of separating liquids through heat and condensation. In this illustration, two large flasks at the bottom left and right are being heated, causing the liquids inside to boil and transform into gases. As these gases rise up through the hollow column in the middle, they are cooled and condensed by water, which fills it. The resulting distillations are collected in two flasks located at the upper left and right corners of the print. It is important to note that while this design was published in Hieronymus Brunschwyk's book Liber de arte destillandi in 1500, it is believed that this particular setup was never actually carried out practically. This artwork provides a fascinating glimpse into an era when chemistry was still emerging as a scientific discipline. The attention to detail in depicting each element of the apparatus highlights both its complexity and ingenuity. This woodcut serves as a testament to human curiosity and innovation throughout history. As we admire this piece from Science Photo Library, we can appreciate how far our understanding of distillation has come since its hypothetical depiction over five centuries ago.
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