This animation shows how to build a fractional distillation apparatus from its component parts. The distillation flask, fractionation column and distillation head lmake up the part of the apparatus where the liquid components are volatilized and separated.
Liquid flows down the condenser and through the adapter into a collection vessel.
A thermometer is attached to the top of the distillation head by an adapter in order to determine the temperature of the vapor being collected. A simple distillation apparatus is less efficient than a fractional distillation apparatus, but is used to purify materials containing only small amounts of impurities with much higher or lower boiling points.