Destillation is a process used to separate mixtures based on differences in boiling points. It involves heating a liquid to create vapor and then cooling the vapor to form a liquid again. This method is commonly used to purify liquids or to separate components in a mixture, such as in the production of alcohol or petroleum products. In a typical distillation setup, a mixture is placed in a container called a distillation flask. As the mixture heats up, the component with the lower boiling point vaporizes first. The vapor then travels through a condenser, where it cools and returns to liquid form, allowing for the collection of the purified substance.