Distillation is used frequently.
Because ether is highly volatile liquid and easily catch the fire (combustible) so direct heat on flame is not possible.
Because when water is distilled it losses all the essentials salts and minerals.
I would use distillation to separate a mixture of water and alcohol. Distillation separates the components of a solution by using the different boiling points of the components. The component with the lowest boiling point separates out first.
Distillation is a form of evaporation, so either will be fine.
Distillation is used frequently.
The ice water bath is an option designed to cool the distillate to speed and improve condensation, which happens in the receiver flask.
a water bath is then needed during distillation
A hot water bath is a bath with hot water. You use it to take a bath.
distillation
Distillation can be used to separate water from salt water.
Because ether is highly volatile liquid and easily catch the fire (combustible) so direct heat on flame is not possible.
separating salt from sea water.
A water bath is only used when the material to be distilled meats two criteria. The first is that the material would deteriorate if exposed to a temperature above a certain temperature and secondly if he distillation temperature is at or below 100oC. In the first car it is easier to control the temperature of a large volume of water because of its thermal inertia rather than control the temperature by using direct heat on a small volume of material to be distilled. In addition the water bath avoids local hot spots in the distillation vessel. The second points obvious in that materials will not distill at temperatures below their own boiling point. With the advent of reliable electrical heating systems water baths have been superseded with temperature controlled electrical heating systems. All the advantages of a water bath, more precise temperature control and less mess.
When separating salt and water.
Because when water is distilled it losses all the essentials salts and minerals.
I would use distillation to separate a mixture of water and alcohol. Distillation separates the components of a solution by using the different boiling points of the components. The component with the lowest boiling point separates out first.