What is the distillation process used for?

• A. Changing solids into gases
• B. To remove impurities by changing liquid to vapor and back to liquid
• C. Heating water to kill microorganisms
• D. Condensing gases into liquids

Answer: (B)

The distillation process is primarily utilized to remove impurities from a liquid by changing it into a vapor and then converting that vapor back into a liquid. This method leverages the differences in boiling points of various substances. During distillation, the mixture is heated, causing the component with the lower boiling point to evaporate first. As the vapor rises, it moves into a cooler area where it condenses back into liquid form, effectively separating it from the impurities or other components in the original mixture. This separation technique is essential in various applications, including the purification of solvents, alcohol production, and the refinement of petroleum products.

The other options outline processes that do not accurately describe distillation. Changing solids into gases describes sublimation, while heating water to kill microorganisms is a disinfection method, and condensing gases into liquids refers to liquefaction processes that differ in principle from distillation.