A distillation apparatus is a setup used to separate mixtures based on differences in boiling points. It typically consists of a heat source, a distillation flask, a condenser, and a receiving flask. The mixture is heated in the distillation flask, causing the component with the lower boiling point to vaporize. The vapor then travels through the condenser, where it cools and condenses back into a liquid. This liquid, known as the distillate, is collected in the receiving flask. Distillation is commonly used in laboratories and industries to purify liquids, such as in the production of alcohol or the separation of petroleum products.