Distillation
Distillation is a technique by which two or more substances with different boiling points can be separated from each other. For example, fresh water can be obtained from seawater (water that contains salts) by distillation. When seawater is heated, water turns into a vapor that can be condensed and captured. The salts in the seawater remain behind.
General principles
In contrast to the preceding example, distillation is most commonly used to separate two or more liquids from each other. Imagine a mixture of three liquids, A, B, and C. A has a boiling point of 86°F (30°C); B has a boiling point of 104°F (40°C); and C has a boiling point of 122°F (50°C). Ordinary gasoline is such a mixture, except that it consists of many more than three components.
The...
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