Question

What is the difference between distillation and fractional distillation?

Answer 1

The simple distillation process is used to separate a mixture of liquids having greater difference in their boiling points (greater than 25 K). On the other hand, fractional distillation is used to separate liquids from a mixture with very less difference in their boiling point (less than 25 K).

In simple distillation, the apparatus consists of a distillation flask connected to a condenser. On the other hand, the apparatus used for fractional distillation is similar to that of simple distillation, but an additional fractionating column is fitted between the condenser and the distillation flask.