Final answer:
Distillation is most useful on any scale from very small to very large. It is applied in laboratory and industrial settings for various purposes, such as refining petroleum and purifying water.
Step-by-step explanation:
Distillation is most useful on any scale from very small to very large. It can be applied in both laboratory and industrial settings for various purposes such as refining petroleum, isolating fermentation products, and purifying water. For example, a typical laboratory-scale distillation apparatus is shown in Figure 11.19. Distillation is a physical process that separates homogeneous mixtures based on the differences in the volatilities of the component substances.