Distillation is a process of separating two or more components from a mixture by utilizing their different boiling points. The component with a lower boiling point vaporizes first and is then condensed to obtain a pure component. The following are the reasons why distillation is possible only if the solution components are volatile.

Volatile Components
Volatile components are those that have a high vapor pressure and low boiling point. These components vaporize easily and can be separated from other components in a mixture by using distillation. If the components are non-volatile, they will not vaporize and cannot be separated by distillation.

Boiling Points
Distillation works on the principle of different boiling points of components in a mixture. If the components have similar boiling points, it becomes difficult to separate them by distillation. Therefore, it is essential that the components have significantly different boiling points to obtain an effective separation.

Temperature
Distillation involves heating the mixture to a temperature at which one of the components starts to vaporize. If the components are non-volatile, they will not vaporize even at high temperatures, making the distillation process impossible.

Conclusion
In conclusion, distillation is possible only if the solution components are volatile. The components must have different boiling points and should be capable of vaporizing at a temperature below their decomposition temperature. Non-volatile components cannot be separated by distillation.