Which process concentrates volatile analytes by heating and condensing the vapor, then collecting the condensate?

• A. Distillation
• B. Evaporation
• C. Liquid-Liquid Extraction
• D. Oven Drying

Answer: (A)

Distillation. This method uses heating to vaporize the volatile component, then cools the vapor in a condenser so it returns to liquid form and is collected as the condensate. The liquid collected (the distillate) is enriched in the volatile analyte because the less volatile materials stay behind in the original flask. This is different from evaporation, which removes solvent without capturing a condensed liquid; liquid–liquid extraction, which moves the analyte into a second immiscible liquid; and oven drying, which removes moisture without collecting condensate.