Why is distillation an effective method for separating a mixture of methanol and water?

Distillation is an effective method for separating a mixture of methanol and water primarily because of the difference in their boiling points. Methanol has a normal boiling point of approximately 64.7°C, while water has a much higher boiling point of 100°C. This difference allows methanol to vaporize at a lower temperature compared to water during the distillation process.

As the mixture is heated, methanol will evaporate first, allowing it to be collected as vapor and then condensed back into liquid form, effectively separating it from the water. This principle of utilizing boiling point differences is the fundamental technique behind distillation, making it particularly suitable for separating substances that have significantly different boiling points. In the case of methanol and water, this method is not only effective but also widely used in laboratories and industrial processes to achieve purification of chemicals.