How to distill essential oils - Quiz
  • 1. What is the primary method used for distilling essential oils from plant material?
A) Solvent extraction
B) Maceration
C) Enfleurage
D) Steam distillation
  • 2. What is the purpose of the condenser in a distillation apparatus?
A) Separating the water from the oil
B) Heating the plant material
C) Cooling the vapor and converting it back to liquid
D) Filtering the essential oil
  • 3. What is the name of the water byproduct collected after essential oil distillation?
A) Resinoid
B) Hydrosol
C) Absolute
D) Concrete
  • 4. Which part of the plant is typically used for distillation?
A) Only the roots
B) Varies depending on the plant species
C) Only the leaves
D) Only the flowers
  • 5. What is the ideal particle size for plant material before distillation?
A) Pressed into cakes
B) Chopped or ground to increase surface area
C) Powdered very finely
D) Whole, uncut
  • 6. Why is it important to control the temperature during steam distillation?
A) To prevent damage to the essential oil molecules
B) To sterilize the plant material
C) To increase the oil yield
D) To create different scents
  • 7. What type of water is generally recommended for steam distillation?
A) Salt water
B) Well water
C) Tap water
D) Distilled water
  • 8. What is the name of the process of separating essential oil from water after distillation?
A) Fractionation
B) Emulsification
C) Condensation
D) Separation
  • 9. Which of these materials is NOT typically used for distillation equipment?
A) Copper
B) Plastic
C) Stainless steel
D) Glass
  • 10. What is the benefit of using a water-cooled condenser?
A) More efficient cooling of the vapor
B) Heating the water for the distillation
C) Filtering impurities from the oil
D) Adding minerals to the hydrosol
  • 11. What is hydro-distillation?
A) Cooling the plant material with water
B) Submerging plant material in water and boiling it
C) Using only steam for distillation
D) Adding hydrosols to the plant material
  • 12. What is the approximate shelf life of properly stored essential oils?
A) 1-3 years
B) 5-10 years
C) Indefinitely
D) 1-2 months
  • 13. What type of container is best for storing essential oils?
A) Cardboard boxes
B) Metal containers
C) Clear plastic bottles
D) Dark glass bottles
  • 14. Why are dark glass bottles preferred for storing essential oils?
A) To increase the oil's potency
B) To protect the oil from light degradation
C) To prevent the oil from evaporating
D) To make the oil look more appealing
  • 15. Which of these factors can affect the quality of the distilled essential oil?
A) Storage conditions
B) All of the above
C) Distillation technique
D) Plant quality
  • 16. What does 'therapeutic grade' mean in relation to essential oils?
A) It means the oil is certified organic
B) It is a scientifically verified grading system
C) It has no official or regulated meaning
D) It guarantees the oil's effectiveness
  • 17. What is the purpose of using a drying agent (like anhydrous sodium sulfate) after separation?
A) To dilute the oil
B) To preserve the oil
C) To remove any remaining water from the oil
D) To add a pleasant scent to the oil
  • 18. What safety precaution is most important during distillation?
A) Using a fire extinguisher
B) Wearing goggles
C) Proper ventilation
D) Wearing gloves
  • 19. Which of the following plants is commonly distilled for its essential oil?
A) Apple
B) Lettuce
C) Tomato
D) Lavender
  • 20. What is cohobation in essential oil distillation?
A) Adding preservatives to the essential oil
B) Blending different essential oils together
C) Re-distilling the hydrosol with the original plant material
D) Freezing the essential oil to increase its potency
  • 21. What happens if the plant material is packed too tightly in the still?
A) It increases the amount of oil extracted
B) Steam cannot penetrate evenly, reducing oil yield
C) It makes the distillation process faster
D) It prevents the plant material from burning
  • 22. What is the typical ratio of plant material to water in hydro-distillation?
A) 1:10
B) 10:1
C) 1:1
D) The plant material is fully submerged in water
  • 23. What does 'rectification' refer to in essential oil distillation?
A) Further purification of the essential oil through repeated distillation
B) Filtering the plant material before distillation
C) Adding a colorant to the oil
D) Adding a synthetic fragrance to the oil
  • 24. What is the purpose of adding salt to the water in some distillation processes?
A) To disinfect the plant material
B) To make the oil smell better
C) To preserve the hydrosol
D) To increase the boiling point of the water
  • 25. What type of still is commonly used for small-scale, home distillation?
A) Molecular still
B) Continuous still
C) Stovetop still
D) Industrial column still
  • 26. Why is it important to clean the distillation equipment thoroughly after each use?
A) To prevent contamination of future distillations
B) To make the equipment look more appealing
C) To sterilize the equipment
D) To increase the lifespan of the equipment
  • 27. What is the impact of harvest time on essential oil yield and quality?
A) Harvest time can significantly affect the yield and quality of the oil.
B) Harvest time only affects the scent of the oil.
C) Harvest time only affects the color of the oil.
D) Harvest time has no impact on essential oil.
  • 28. What is a refractometer used for in essential oil production?
A) Measuring the refractive index of the oil.
B) Measuring the pH of the hydrosol.
C) Measuring the boiling point of the water.
D) Measuring the plant material density.
  • 29. What is the purpose of a trap (like a florentine flask) in essential oil distillation?
A) Separating the essential oil from the hydrosol.
B) Filtering impurities from the hydrosol.
C) Heating the plant material.
D) Adding nutrients to the essential oil.
  • 30. What is the meaning of the term 'volatile' when describing essential oils?
A) Toxic if ingested.
B) Highly flammable.
C) Solid at room temperature.
D) Easily evaporates at room temperature.
Created with That Quiz — where test making and test taking are made easy for math and other subject areas.