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