Fractional distillation is the separation of various components from a liquid. Each component typically has a different boiling point and vapour pressure than the rest, so fractional distillation can be achieved by applying a temperature gradient. The various components are condensed at different stages or levels of the setup, which can either be a small setup consisting of laboratory glassware and other equipment, or a large-scale industrial operation, such as in the oil and gas industry ... Learn what fractional distillation is, how it works, and why it is used in various industries. Find out the principle, procedure, applications, and FAQs of fractional distillation with examples and videos. Fractional distillation separates mixture parts based on different boiling points for purifying chemicals. Fractional distillation helps produce gasoline and chemicals from crude oil by separating hydrocarbon fractions. Simple distillation works for big boiling point differences, but fractional distillation works for close differences. What is Fractional Distillation ? Fractional distillation is the process of separating the various components of a mixture by heating. If the boiling points of the two liquids are very close to one another, the separation cannot be achieved by a simple distillation method. It is because, with the boiling point of the more volatile liquid of the mixture, there will also be sufficient vapours of the less volatile liquid. As a result, both the liquids will distill together, and the separation ...
