What is condensation in separation processes?

Condensation is the process in which a vapor or gas changes back into a liquid when it is cooled. In separation techniques, it is often used along with evaporation to collect the liquid that has been vaporized.

For example, when water is heated, it turns into vapor. If this vapor is cooled, it condenses back into liquid water. This principle is used in methods like distillation, where pure liquid is obtained from a mixture.

Condensation is especially useful when both components of a mixture need to be collected, such as separating pure water from saltwater.

In simple terms, condensation helps recover the liquid after it has been converted into vapor during separation.