Final answer:
A simple distillation is performed to separate a homogeneous mixture into its individual components by their boiling points, by taking advantage of differences in their volatilities. The more volatile component vaporizes first, is condensed, and collected apart from the less volatile components.
Step-by-step explanation:
We perform a simple distillation in the lab to separate components based on boiling points. This process utilizes differences in volatility, which is how easily a substance is converted to a gas at a given temperature. When a solution is subjected to distillation, the substance with the lower boiling point, referred to as the more volatile component, will vaporize first. It then condenses back into a liquid in a water-cooled condenser and is collected in a receiving flask. For example, distilling a solution of salt and water, the water (having the lower boiling point) will collect in the receiving flask, leaving the salt behind in the distillation flask.
The distillation process is not used to extract impurities, to test pH, or to speed up the reaction. It is a physical process that separates mixtures into their individual components, which is crucial for purifying substances or isolating specific compounds from a mixture. Distillation is crucial in both laboratory and industrial settings for a variety of applications such as refining petroleum, isolating fermentation products, and purifying water.