Question

How is fractional distillation different from simple distillation?

Answer 1

1. Fractional distillation is used for mixtures whose components have very little difference in their boiling points. Simple distillation is used for mixtures whose components have a significant difference in boiling points.
2. In a fractional distillation setup, there is a fractionating column attached to the flask in which the mixture is heated. The fractionating column is not present in a simple distillation setup.