Final answer:
The primary goal of distillation is to separate homogeneous mixtures into their component substances by using differences in volatilities. Distillation can separate mixtures based on boiling points, such as separating salt from water or refining crude petroleum into different products.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary goal of distillation is to separate homogeneous mixtures (solutions) into their component substances. Distillation achieves this goal by making use of differences in the volatilities of the component substances.
For example, distillation can separate a solution of salt in water by heating the solution until it boils. The resulting vapor is enriched in the more volatile component (water), which condenses to a liquid in the cold condenser and is collected in the receiving flask.
Similarly, mixtures of two or more liquids with different boiling points can be separated through distillation. This process is used in the refining of crude petroleum to obtain useful products, such as aviation fuel, gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, and lubricating oil, by separating the components based on their boiling points.