Which method is primarily used to isolate components from a liquid mixture?

Fractional distillation is the correct method for isolating components from a liquid mixture based on their different boiling points. This technique involves heating the liquid mixture to convert it into vapor, which is then cooled to condense it back into a liquid. As the mixture is heated, components with lower boiling points vaporize and rise through a column, allowing for separation from the components with higher boiling points. This process takes advantage of the differences in boiling points to effectively separate and purify the desired component.

In contrast, while filtration is used to separate solids from liquids or gases, it does not apply directly to liquid mixtures where components remain in the liquid state. Purification is a broader term encompassing various methods, and while it can include fractional distillation, it does not specifically refer to isolating components in the context of this question. Paper chromatography is used primarily for separating and identifying components in a mixture based on their movement on a stationary phase, and while effective for certain applications, it is not the primary method for isolating components from a liquid mixture.