A sample of water and alcohol are mixed What method should be used to separate them?

* Boiling Points: Water and alcohol have significantly different boiling points. Water boils at 100°C (212°F), while ethanol (the most common type of alcohol) boils at 78.37°C (173°F).

* Distillation Process:

1. Heating: The mixture is heated.

2. Vaporization: The alcohol, with its lower boiling point, will vaporize first.

3. Condensation: The alcohol vapor is then cooled and condensed back into a liquid, collected separately.

4. Remaining Water: The water, with its higher boiling point, remains in the original container.

Other Methods (Less Effective):

* Evaporation: While water evaporates faster than alcohol, it's not a practical method for complete separation.

* Filtration: This won't work because both water and alcohol are liquids and pass through a filter.

* Decantation: This might work for a small amount of separation, but it won't be very effective for a large mixture.

Important Note: Distillation is a common technique used in chemistry and industry for separating mixtures based on boiling point differences.