Crude oil is a mixture of many liquids. The crude oil enters the bottom of a tall column, where the mixture is heated. The substances rise up the column until they cool down and condense back to liquids. The components of crude oil can be separated because of differences in which property?

The components of crude oil have different boiling points. As the heated mixture rises through the column, each component cools and condenses at a different temperature, so the liquids separate at different levels. This process is based on boiling point, not magnetism or density.

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