How does distillation separate volatile substances from an aqueous solution?

In analytical chemistry, distillation separates volatile substances from an aqueous solution by exploiting differences in boiling points.12

The process involves heating the solution in a vessel, known as a pot or boiling flask. As the temperature rises, the components with lower boiling points are converted into a gaseous state. Because the vapor above a liquid mixture contains a higher proportion of the more volatile substance than the liquid itself, this vapor can be captured and separated from the less volatile components.12

The vapor exits the pot and passes through a condenser, where it is cooled and converted back into a liquid, referred to as the distillate. To increase the efficiency of this separation, a distillation column is often placed between the pot and the condenser. This column provides surfaces for repeated vaporization and condensation steps, which concentrate the more volatile components in the upper fractions and the less volatile components in the lower fractions.12