National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) Practice Exam

What percentage by volume of alcohol can distillation produce?

1. 50%

2. 60%

3. 75%

4. Up to 95%

The correct answer is: Up to 95%

Distillation is a separation process that involves heating a liquid to create vapor and then cooling that vapor to create a liquid again. This method is effectively used in the production of alcoholic beverages. The correct answer indicates that distillation can produce alcohol at a concentration of up to 95% by volume. This high percentage is achievable due to the properties of alcohol and water; ethanol (the type of alcohol found in beverages) has a lower boiling point than water. During distillation, the ethanol vaporizes first and can be collected and condensed back into liquid form. Theoretically, this allows distillation to separate ethanol from water to create a solution that can contain up to 95% ethanol. However, achieving exactly 95% alcohol in practice can be influenced by the type of distillation technique used, such as simple distillation versus fractional distillation, and the presence of azeotropes that can impact the efficiency of the separation process. Nonetheless, distillation remains the primary method for producing high-proof alcohol, making 95% the widely accepted upper limit for alcohol concentration through this technique.