Scribd
Upload
261 views14 pages

Separation Techniques

This document describes various techniques for separating mixtures based on differences in their physical and chemical properties, including: Manual separation, magnetism, filtration, evaporation, crystallization, sublimation, simple and fractional distillation, use of a separating funnel, and centrifugation. It provides examples of how each technique can be used to separate specific mixtures and defines key terms used in the processes.

Uploaded by

Nathaniel Whyte
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
261 views14 pages

Separation Techniques

This document describes various techniques for separating mixtures based on differences in their physical and chemical properties, including: Manual separation, magnetism, filtration, evaporation, crystallization, sublimation, simple and fractional distillation, use of a separating funnel, and centrifugation. It provides examples of how each technique can be used to separate specific mixtures and defines key terms used in the processes.

Uploaded by

Nathaniel Whyte
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 14

SEPARATION

TECHNIQUES

Prepared by: A. Harris


Mixtures
► When was the last time you ate some
Jelly-beans or M&M?
► Were you selective about the colours
you ate?
► Just like the mixture of Jelly-beans,
most substances are a mixture of
things.
► Remember that there are two types of
matter that exist: pure substances and
mixtures.
► A mixture is a physical combination of
two or more substances that are mixed
but not chemically combined.
► The components of a mixture maintain
their own physical properties.
► An example of a mixture is salt water.
► There are several ways in which mixtures
may be separated. Some of the more
common methods are:
1. Manual separation
2. Magnetism
3. Filtration
4. Evaporation
5. Crystallization
Separating
6. Sublimation Mixtures
7. Simple distillation
8. Fractional distillation
9. Use of separating funnel
10. Centrifugation
11. Chromatography
Manual separation
► Manual separation is also called hand-picking
► This is a physical method applied to heterogenous solid mixtures.
► This method relies on colour / size / texture differences of the particles
which constitute the mixture.
► This method is only useful when the particles are large enough to be
clearly seen
► For example
► Picking pebbles from rice
► Separating grass from mint leaves
► Separating parts of a salad
Magnetism
► Separation by magnetism is a process in which magnetically susceptible
material is extracted from a mixture using a magnetic force
► For example,
► You are given a mixture of sulphur and iron filing
► Iron is a metal and would therefore be attracted to a magnet.
► Therefore, hovering a magnet over the surface of this mixture would result in iron
filings leaving the mixture and sticking to the magnet.
Filtration
► Filtration is the method used to separate an insoluble solid from a liquid by
interposing a medium through which only the liquid can pass.
► An example would be to separate a mixture of sand and water.

The solid (sand) left on the


filter paper is called residue.

The liquid (water) that


has passed through the
filter paper is called
filtrate.
Evaporation
► Evaporation is the method used to separate a solute from a solution.
► It can only be used for solids which do not decompose under heat e.g. table
salt (sodium chloride).
► It is done by heating the solution in an evaporating dish until it is completely
dry.

Crystals of salt remain after the solution is evaporated to dryness.


Crystallization
► Crystallisation is the method used to obtain pure crystals from a solution.
► It is done by heating the solution in an evaporating dish until it is saturated.
► The hot solution is then allowed to cool.
► Crystals will be formed on cooling. They are then dried between sheets of
filter paper.
Sublimation
► Sublimation is the method
used to separate a substance
which sublimes from a
mixture.
► Examples of substances which
sublime are: iodine,
ammonium salts, naphthalene
and dry ice.
► The mixture is heated in an
evaporating dish covered with
a filter funnel.
► The substance which sublimes To separate ammonium chloride
will be changed into a vapour from sodium chloride, this
and then formed back on the method can be employed.
inside of the funnel.
Simple distillation
► Distillation is the method
used to obtain a pure solvent
from a solution. E.g. pure
water from seawater.
► It is done by heating the
solution in a distillation flask
and collecting the vapour that
boils off.
► A condenser is used to
condense the hot vapour and
change it to a liquid.
► The condenser is cooled by
the flow of cold water (in the
condenser) from the tap.
Fractional
distillation
► Fractional distillation is used
to separate two or more
miscible liquids with different
boiling points that are
relatively close to each other.
► A fractionating column and a
condenser are used.
► Example: Mixture of ethanol
and water
► When the thermometer
reaches a steady temperature
of 78 oC, ethanol is collected.
► Water is collected when the
thermometer reaches a steady
temperature of 100 oC.
Separating funnel
► This method is used to separate a mixture of
immiscible liquids.

► The mixture is placed into a separating


funnel and allowed to settle into two layers,
with the less dense liquid floating on top of
the heavier liquid.

Example: Mixture of oil and water

► The tap is first opened to allow the water to


drain out of the funnel.

► After all the water has drained out, another


beaker is placed below the funnel and oil is
now drained out.
Centrifugation
► A method of physically separating a mixture based on differences in density.
► Sample is spun at high speeds in tubes placed in a machine called a
centrifuge.
► The most dense substance falls to the bottom layer.
► The least dense substance forms the top layer.
Quick Check
► State the method you will use to separate the following substances.
(a) calcium carbonate from table salt
(b) iodine from sodium chloride
(c) table salt from seawater
(d) sugar from sugar solution
(e) pure water from sewage water
(f) ethanol from beer
(g) yellow dye from durian ice cream

► Explain the following in chromatography.


(a) Why is the starting line not drawn with ink or a ball point pen?
(b) The spots of samples on the start line should be small.
(c) What is the biggest advantage of chromatography?

► A sample of ink was analysed using paper chromatography (see diagram above). Identify
the dyes present in the ink.

You might also like