The distillation column is used in chemical laboratories, breweries and oil refineries to separate a mixture of liquids into its individual components. The mixture (e.g. crude oil) is heated, the component that boils the easiest (e.g. kerosene) evaporates and leaves the mixture, passes through the column where it is cooled and condensed again in another recipient.
Separating, in order to understand, is at the heart of modern science and technology (Cat. Nr. 12, Cat. Nr. 47). It stands in opposition to bringing together, which is at the heart of e.g. ecology (Cat. Nr. 13).
And still: the word "chemistry", and its analogue in many languages, derives from ancient greek and refers to "casting together". Only in the dutch language the word for chemistry is "scheikunde" and refers to "separating".
