In the process of fractional distillation, what property of the substances is primarily utilized?

In fractional distillation, the primary property utilized is the differences in boiling points of the substances involved. This technique is particularly effective for separating mixtures of liquids when they have significantly different boiling points.

During fractional distillation, a mixture is heated, and as the temperature rises, components with lower boiling points vaporize first. This vapor rises through a fractional distillation column, where it encounters surfaces that allow for further condensing and re-evaporation. This process is repeated multiple times as the vapor travels up the column, effectively separating the components based on their boiling points.

As the separation progresses, the fractions collected at different heights within the column correspond to different boiling point ranges, allowing for the isolation of specific components from the mixture. The process is highly effective for purifying liquids, such as in the petroleum industry to separate crude oil into its constituent fractions.

Understanding that boiling point differences drive this separation process is crucial to grasping how fractional distillation works and its applications in various chemical contexts.