Science glossary film: Distillation

A way of separating liquids that have different boiling points from a mixture.

By heating the liquid mixture in a closed vessel until it boils, then collecting the vapor and allowing it to condense, liquid fractions with successively higher boiling points can be collected. Distillation is widely used in the oil industry, and in the production of spirits.

By heating the liquid mixture in a closed vessel until it boils, then collecting the vapor and allowing it to condense, liquid fractions with successively higher boiling points can be collected. Distillation is widely used in the oil industry, and in the production of spirits.