Theory:
When the substance dissolved in a liquid, the vapour pressure of the liquid is lowered.
When two miscible liquid are mixed together, each will act as solute or solvent for the other. So, when mixture of such two liquid is heated, vapour pressure of each is lowered.
The pressure exerted by each liquid is known as “partial pressure”.
The liquid boils when the sum of partial pressure equals the atmospheric pressure.
It differs from simple distillation in that Partial condensation of vapour is allowed to occur in a fractionating column through which the vapour must pass before reaching the condenser.
This column enables ascending vapour from the still to come in contact with the condensing vapour returning to still. This results in enrichment of the vapour in the more volatile component.