Final answer:
Distillation separates materials based on their boiling points, not their melting points, making the statement false. It allows the separation of components in a homogeneous mixture by utilizing the distinct boiling points of each substance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Distillation separates materials based on melting point' is false. Distillation is a physical process used to separate homogeneous mixtures into their component substances, and it operates based on differences in boiling points, not melting points. Materials with different boiling points will vaporize at different temperatures, allowing them to be collected separately.
For example, in the separation of crude oil, distillation separates various hydrocarbons into different products. The most volatile components, which have the lowest boiling points, condense at the top of the distillation column, while less volatile materials with higher boiling points condense and are collected at the bottom.
Similarly, in the distillation of a saltwater solution, the water vaporizes and is collected as a separate component, while the non-volatile salt remains behind. This clearly demonstrates that distillation relies on boiling point differences rather than melting points.