What is the main purpose of distillation in chemical processing?

The main purpose of distillation in chemical processing is to separate components in a liquid mixture based on differences in boiling points. This process takes advantage of the fact that different substances will vaporize at different temperatures. By heating the mixture, the component with the lowest boiling point evaporates first. This vapor can then be condensed back into liquid form and collected separately from the remaining components.

Distillation is widely used in various industries, such as in the production of spirits, petroleum refining, and the purification of chemicals. The efficiency and effectiveness of distillation depend on the relative volatility of the components involved, making it a crucial technique for obtaining high-purity products from complex mixtures.

In contrast to the other mentioned purposes, distillation does not focus on creating solid products or measuring pressure changes. Additionally, while distillation can be part of processes that enhance chemical reactions, its primary function is the separation of components, not the acceleration or enhancement of reactions themselves.