Mixtures and

Separations
 Distinguish between pure
substances and mixtures

Learning Distinguish among solutions,

Objectives suspensions and colloids

Identify the different types of

solutions
 Investigate the effect of
temperature on solubility of
solids in water

Learning Apply suitable separation

techniques based on
Objectives differences in properties of the
components of mixtures

Describe the extraction of

sucrose from sugar cane
Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
• Matter can be classified into two main groups : pure substances and
mixtures
• Pure substances –are a type of matter where the component parts cannot
be separated by physical means and the composition is constant. A pure
substance is composed of only one material.
• Pure substances can be further classified into elements and compounds.
• Element- is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into any
simpler substance by ordinary or physical means. Example
• Atom – The smallest particle of an element which can exist.
• Molecule- Groups of atoms .Example
• Compound- is a pure substance that contains two or more different types
of element which are chemically combined in such a way that their
properties change. Example
Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
• Mixtures- are a type of matter where the components can
be separated by physical means. Mixtures can easily be
separated into their components.
• Physical methods which mixtures are separated by:
❖ Filtration
❖ Evaporation
❖ Distillation
❖ Fractional Distillation
• Homogenous Mixture- is a mixture in which the
properties and composition are uniform throughout the
sample. A solution is a homogenous mixture .E.g. air
,Salt dissolved in water
Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
• Heterogenous mixture- is a non-uniform mixture i.e. a
mixture where the component parts are in different
states.
• Suspensions and colloids are heterogenous mixtures
• E.g. mixtures of salt and pepper, sand and water and
mayonnaise
Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
• If there is only one kind of atom then it is an element
• If there are two or more kinds of atoms joined together in
the same ratio then it is a compound
• If there is a combination of two or more elements and/or
compounds then it is a mixture
Solutions, Suspensions and Colloids
• Solutions – homogenous mixtures consisting of two or
more components.These components are :
1. Solvent – This is the major component of a solution
2. Solute –The minor component of a solution
• The solute and solvent can either be gases, liquids or
solids
• When a gas or a solid dissolve in a liquid , the liquid is always the
solvent
Solutions, Suspensions and Colloids-
Various Types of Solutions
Solute Solvent Example Components of
solution
Solid Liquid Sea Water Salt in water
Gas Liquid Soda Water CO2 in water
Solid Solid Brass Zinc in copper
Liquid Liquid Rum Ethanol in water
Gas Gas Air O2,Ar and CO2 in N2

Table 1.Various Types of Solutions

Solutions, Suspensions and Colloids
• Suspension- a heterogenous mixture where minute but
visible particles are dispersed in another substance
usually a liquid
• Colloids – heterogenous mixtures which have properties
somewhere between that of a solution and a suspension.
E.g. toothpaste, fog, milk, jelly
Solutions, Suspensions and colloids-Table 2.Comparision of Solution,
Suspension and Colloid
Property Solution Colloid Suspension
Particle Very small Greater than that of a Large that they are visible
size solution. They are not to the naked eye
visible to the naked
eye
Type of mixture Homogeneous Heterogeneous Heterogenous
Appearance Generally transparent Usually opaque Opaque

Can the components be No No Yes

separated by filtration ?

Do the components No No Yes

separate out after the
mixture has been
standing for a while ?

Transmission of Light Transmit light Will scatter light Does not transmit light, it
appearing transparent is opaque
Solubility
• Solubility of a solute is an indication of how much of the
solute can dissolve in a fixed mass of solvent at a
particular temperature
• Each solute and solvent combination has a specific
solubility at a given temperature.
• The solubility of a solute in a solvent is determined by the
structure of the solute and solvent, the temperature and
pressure
• Saturated solution is a solution which contains as much
solute as can be dissolved at a given temperature in the
presence of undissolved solute
Solubility-The Effect of Temperature
on Solubility
• For most solid solutes in water, solubility increases as
temperature increases
• What does this mean?
• This means that as the temperature increases, a greater
mass of solute will saturate a fixed mass of water.
• Solubility in water is usually measured as the mass of
solute which will saturate 100g of water. The unit for
solubility is g per 100g of water.
Solubility
When we plot solubility of a solute against temperature we
draw a graph known as the solubility curve
 1. What is the solubility of potassium

Solubility Curves
chlorate (v) at 78oC?
2. At what temperature would crystals
just begin to form if an unsaturated
solution of potassium chlorate (v)
containing 20g of potassium
chlorate (v) dissolved in 100g of
water is cooled from 80oC?
3. What mass of potassium chlorate(v)
would crystallise out of a saturated
solution containing 100g of water
when the temperature of the
solution is decreased from 64oC to
22oC?
4. What mass of potassium chlorate (v)
must be added to resaturate a
solution containing 250g of water if
the temperature of the saturated
solution is increased from 32oC to
82oC?
5. What is the minimum mass of water
required to dissolve 40 g of
potassium chlorate (v)at 74oC?
Separation of Mixtures
• Mixtures are a type of matter where components can be separated by
physical means.
• The method by which a mixture can be separated into its component
parts is determined by the physical properties of these parts e.g.
particle size, boiling point, solubility.
Separation of Mixtures
Separation Method Physical Properties of Component Parts
Filtration Mixture of a solid and a liquid where the solid does
not dissolve in the liquid
Evaporation Mixture of a solid dissolved in a liquid but it only
allows for collection of the solid
Simple Distillation Mixture of a solid dissolved in a liquid where the
boiling point of the liquid is lower than that of the
solid
Fractional Distillation Mixture of two (or more ) liquids which are miscible
(mix completely ) and have different boiling points i.e.
there is a difference in volatility
Separating Funnel Mixture of two (or more ) liquids which are immiscible
(do not mix ) and have different densities
Chromatography Mixture of different dissolved substances which will
travel through a material. The dissolved substances
are separated based on the differences in the
solubility of the solutes in a solvent
Filtration
• Filtration is used to separate a mixture of a solid and a liquid where
the solid does not dissolve in the liquid.
• The mixture is called a suspension.
• Filtration makes use of filter paper to separate the solid from the
liquid
• The filter paper works as a sieve keeping back the solid particles
• These particles are too big to pass through the filter paper whereas
the liquid particles are small enough to pass through the filter paper
 Filtration

• The part of the mixture that

stays behind on the filter
paper is known as the
residue
• The part that passes
through the filter paper is
known as the filtrate
Evaporation
• Evaporation is used to separate a
solution of solid dissolved in a liquid
but it only allows the solid to be
collected.
• During evaporation, the solution is
boiled allowing the liquid to vaporise
into the air
• The solute will be left behind in the
container
• Evaporation occurs at all temperatures
not just the boiling point of the
solution , so if a beaker contain a
solution of salt dissolved in water is
left for a while it will eventually
contain only salt as the water will have
evaporated
Simple Distillation
• Simple distillation is also used to separate a solution og a solid
dissolved in a liquid
• It allows both the solid and the liquid to be collected
• Simple distillation is only an appropriate method of separation if the
liquid has a lower boiling point than the solid , i.e. the liquid becomes
a vapour before the solid
• One of the key components of the apparatus used is the Liebig
condenser.
• Distillation can be used to separate a mixture of salt and water
 Simple Distillation

• The method by which the

distillation apparatus works is :
• The mixture is heated in the
distillation flask until vaporisation
occurs
• The vapour rises up the
distillation flask and as it passes
into the Liebig condenser it
begins to cool and condenses
back to a liquid. This liquid passes
down the condenser and can be
collected
Fractional Distillation
• Fractional distillation is used to separate a mixture of two or more
liquids which are miscible and have different boiling points close to
each other
• The apparatus used in fractional distillation is similar to that of simple
distillation
• A fractionating column is attached to a round bottomed flask which is
then attached to a Liebig Condesner.
• Fractional distillation can be used to separate a mixture of methanol
and water, since the boiling point of methanol is 58o C and that of
water is 100 oC
 Fractional distillation
• The method by which the apparatus for fractional distillation
works is:
1. The mixture boils and vapours of both liquids enter the
fractionating column
2. Vapour from the liquid with the higher boiling point
condenses in the fractionating column and returns to the
flask
3. Vapour from the liquid with the lower boiling point reaches
the top of the fractionating column enters the condenser
and condenses
4. Condensed liquid drips into the flask. This is the distillate
5. Each fraction of the mixture is collected in a separate
container
Separating funnel
• A separating funnel is used to separate a mixture of liquids
which are immiscible and have different densities
• A separating funnel is a container which has a tap at the
bottom allowing you to drain off one liquid before the
other
• Oil and water are two liquids which are immiscible and they
have different densities
• In a mixture of oil and water is placed in the separating
funnel , the oil will float on the water. Opening the tap
allows the liquid with the highest density (water) to run off
into the beaker below
Paper Chromatography
• Paper chromatography is used to separate a mixture of different
dissolved substances which will travel through a material
• The dissolved substances are separated based on their solubility in
the solvent
• Many inks and food colouring mixtures of two or more dyes.
• Paper chromatography is a very useful technique for separating dyes
Paper Chromatography
• The method by which paper chromatography works is :
1. Absorbent paper is required for the process, this paper may be special chromatography paper
or plain filter paper
2. A pencil line known as the datum line is drawn near the bottom of the paper and a small drop
of the mixture is placed on the line
3. The bottom edge of the paper is placed in a solvent. The solvent must be able to dissolve the
mixture, although some of the dyes will be more soluble than others
4. The solvent dissolves the mixture in the drop and moves up the papers carrying the dyes with
it
5. The different dyes will travel up the paper at different rates. The dyes that are the most soluble
in the solvent will travel faster and will therefore reach the highest level on the paper
6. Dyes that are less soluble will travel more slowly and not reach as far up the paper
7. Once the solvent has completed its movement up the paper, the paper is allowed to dry. There
will be a pattern of colours on the paper each one representing a part of the mixture i.e. one of
the dyes
Paper Chromatography