why is distillation the only way we can separate out a solute and solvent from a solution.

The solute is dissolved down to the molecular level, and physical separation at this small scale is difficult.

However, one does not have to distill, Ever hear of reverse osmosis?

You are correct that distillation is not the only method to separate a solute and solvent from a solution. There are indeed other methods available, such as filtration, evaporation, chromatography, and reverse osmosis, as you mentioned.

Distillation is commonly used to separate a solute and solvent in a solution when the boiling points of the solute and solvent differ significantly. By heating the solution, the solvent with the lower boiling point vaporizes, leaving the solute behind. The vapor is then cooled and condensed to obtain the separated solvent. This method is particularly effective when dealing with mixtures that consist of substances with significantly different boiling points.

However, as you pointed out, there are other methods like reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis is a process that uses pressure to force a solvent (usually water) through a semi-permeable membrane, which only allows the passage of solvent molecules while blocking solute molecules. This method is commonly used to desalinate seawater or purify water.

The choice of separation method depends on various factors such as the nature of the solute and solvent, their boiling points, the desired purity of the separated components, and the scale of the separation process. Each method has its own advantages and limitations, and the appropriate method is selected based on the specific requirements of the situation. It is always important to consider the characteristics of the solute and solvent and the desired outcome when choosing the appropriate separation technique.