Fractional distillation is primarily used for which purpose?

Fractional distillation is a technique primarily used to separate mixtures of liquids into their individual components based on differences in their boiling points. In this process, a mixture is heated in a distillation column, and as the temperature increases, the components of the mixture will vaporize at their respective boiling points. The vapor then moves up the column, where it cools and condenses back into liquid form, allowing for collection of each component separately.

The efficiency of fractional distillation lies in its ability to take advantage of slight differences in boiling points, making it particularly effective for separating complex mixtures such as those found in crude oil, where numerous hydrocarbons are present. As a result, this method is widely used in various fields, including the petroleum industry and in laboratories for purifying solvents.

Other options, such as mixing different compounds, oxidizing organic compounds, or catalyzing reactions, do not relate to the primary function of fractional distillation. These processes involve different principles and techniques within the field of chemistry.