Simple Distillation - GCSE Chemistry Definition

Simple distillation is a method used to separate a liquid from a mixture by using differences in boiling points. It is commonly used to separate a solvent (like water) from a solution (like salty water).

The process involves:

1. Heating the mixture until the liquid with the lowest boiling point evaporates

2. The vapour passes into a condenser, where it is cooled and condenses back into a liquid

3. The purified liquid, called the distillate, is collected separately

In GCSE Chemistry, simple distillation is used to demonstrate how mixtures can be separated based on their physical properties, especially boiling point differences.