Definition

The process of purifying a liquid by heating it until it evaporates and then collecting the vapor as it cools and condenses back into a liquid.

Example

The distillation of water makes it safe to drink by removing impurities.

Conversation

I've been reading about the process of distillation in chemistry class.

Oh really? I find that stuff fascinating!

Yeah, it’s interesting how they purify liquids through distillation.

Exactly! It’s amazing to think about how they extract different components.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Distillation → It is formed from "dis-" (meaning apart) and "stilla" (from Latin, meaning drop). The word describes the process of separating substances by taking them apart into drops, typically through heating and cooling.

Memory Tip

Think of separating liquids into 'drops' ('stilla') — that's how distillation works, taking things apart.

Visually Confused Words