SEPARATION OF SUBSTANCES

Ch-5

Mixture: A mixture is a combination of two or more substances. A mixture can usually be

separated back into its original components. Some examples of mixtures are a tossed salad,
salt water and a mixed bag of candy or a fruit basket.

I) NEED FOR SEPARATION OF COMPONENTS FROM A MIXTURE

We separate components from a mixture because of the following reasons:

1) To remove an undesirable or harmful component: We separate the tea leaves (which

are undesirable) from the tea by using a strainer. We also separate the harmful pieces of
stones and small insects from food grains before using them.

2) To obtain pure or useful substance/ component: We distill the tap water (which
contains many impurities), to obtain pure water which is used in the preparation of many
medicines and compounds.

II) METHODS OF SEPARATION

The substances to be separated may be particles of different sizes or materials. These

may be in any three states of matter i.e., solid, liquid or gas. There are various methods
to separate particles in a mixture.

A) SEPARATION OF COMPONENTS OF A SOLID-SOLID MIXTURE

The following methods are commonly used to separate components from a mixture
of solid substances:

1. Handpicking: Handpicking is a separation technique used to remove the unwanted

impurities from a mixture by hand. It involves simply picking out substances
by hand and separating them from others.
This method of handpicking can be used for separating larger sized impurities like
the pieces of dirt, stone, and husk from wheat, rice or pulses. Handpicking
method can be used when items differ on the basis of color, shape and weight.

We may pluck mangoes or guavas from the trees. But, grain seeds are much smaller
than mangoes or guavas. So, plucking them from their stalks will be impossible.
Hence we use the process of threshing.

2. Threshing: When the crops are harvested, their stalks are bundled and dried in the
sun. Each stalk has many grains attached to it. These stalks are beaten to free the
 grain seeds from them. This process of separating grains from the stalk is called
threshing.
Sometimes, threshing is done with the help of bullocks or a machine called combine
harvester.

3. Winnowing: Winnowing is the method of separating husk and chaff from grains with
the help of wind. Husk is very light whereas grains are heavy. The farmer stands at a
higher platform and allows the mixture of husk and grains to fall down from a height
by shaking his winnowing basket. The heavier grains fall down to the ground while
the lighter husk is carried away by the wind.

4. Sieving: A sieve is a shallow vessel having small holes at its bottom (like an iron
mesh). The method of separating a mixture by using a sieve is called sieving.
The larger particles of the mixture cannot pass through the small holes of the sieve
and remain behind in the sieve.
For example, we sieve the wheat flour to separate any coarse particles from it.
Sieves are also used at construction sites to separate pebbles and stones from sand.

B) SEPARATION OF INSOLUBLE COMPONENTS FROM A MIXTURE

Sometimes, it is not possible to separate components of a mixture by winnowing and

handpicking because there are lighter impurities like dust or soil particles in the
mixture. For example we cannot remove fine dust particles from rice or pulses by
handpicking or sieving. So we add water to the rice/ pulses. It becomes a solid (rice
and impurities) – liquid (water) mixture.

To remove finer, insoluble impurities from such a mixture we use the following
methods:

1. Sedimentation
2. Decantation
3. Filtration

1. Sedimentation is defined as the separation process in which heavier, insoluble solid

particles (sediments) are separated from a mixture when water is added to it. When left
undisturbed, all the sediments settle down at the bottom and a clear layer of liquid is
obtained on top.

2. Decantation: Sedimentation is followed by decantation. In decantation the clear liquid

collected at the top of the vessel (obtained after sedimentation) is poured into another
vessel. Thus the cleaner liquid is separated from the settled insoluble impurities. This
method is also used to separate two immiscible liquids.

3. Filtration: It is the process by which insoluble solids can be removed from a liquid by
using a filter paper.
 For example: A mixture of chalk powder and water can be separated by filtration. The
liquid that passes through the filter paper is called the filtrate and the undissolved solid
particles left behind are called residue.

(A filter paper has very fine pores in it. To use a filter paper, we fold it in the form of a cone and
fix it onto a funnel. The mixture is then poured on the filter paper. Solid particles in the mixture
do not pass through it and remain on the filter.)

Some examples of filtration:

1. Fruit and vegetable juices are usually filtered before drinking to separate the seeds and
solid particles of pulp.

2. For making paneer, a few drops of lemon juice are added to milk as it boils. This gives a
mixture of particles of solid paneer and a liquid. The paneer is then separated by filtering
the mixture through a fine cloth or a strainer.

3. Separating tea leaves from prepared tea using a strainer is also an example of filtration.

C) SEPARATION OF FINE, SOLUBLE IMPURITIES FROM A MIXTURE

1. Evaporation
2. Condensation

1. Evaporation: The process of conversion of water into vapour is called evaporation.

Evaporation takes place upon heating the water. The process of evaporation occurs
continuously wherever water is present. Evaporation can be used to separate a solid
dissolved in a liquid.
For example, we use the process of evaporation, to separate a mixture of water and salt.
We also separate salt from sea water by the process of evaporation.

2. Condensation: The process of conversion of water vapour into its liquid form is called
condensation. Condensation happens when water vapour comes in contact with a cooler
surface or lower temperature.
For example, water drops can be observed under a plate that has been used to cover a
vessel containing milk that has just been boiled. This happens due to condensation of
steam when it comes in contact with the cooler plate.

III) HOW TO SEPARATE A MIXTURE OF SAND AND SALT?

Sometimes we have to use more than one method of separation to separate components from a
mixture. For example we cannot separate a mixture of salt and sand by handpicking or
evaporation only. We use combination of steps to separate such mixtures.

1. Keep the sand and salt mixture in a beaker and add some water to it.
2. Leave the beaker aside undisturbed for some time and let the heavier, insoluble
impurities (sand) settle down. (Sedimentation).
3. The sand can be separated by Decantation or Filtration.
4. The separated/ filtered water contains the dissolved salt.
5. To separate salt from water we transfer this solution to a kettle and close its lid.
6. Heat the kettle for some time till the water starts evaporating.
7. Upon evaporation, we observe steam coming out of the kettle.
8. Take a metal plate with some ice on it. Hold the plate just above the spout. When the
steam comes in contact with the metal plate cooled with ice, it condenses and forms
liquid water.
9. After all the water has evaporated, salt is left behind in the kettle.
10. We have thus, separated salt, sand and water using processes of decantation, filtration,
evaporation and condensation.

Practice Question 1: How will you separate sand and water from their mixture?

Answer: We will separate sand and water mixture by Sedimentation and Decantation.

1. The mixture is allowed to stand undisturbed in a container for some time.

2. Gradually the sand settles down (sedimentation).
3. Then we slowly pour the water into another container to obtain clear water (decantation).
4. The sand is left at the bottom of the container.

Practice Question 2: How would you obtain clear water from a sample of muddy water?

Answer: To obtain clear water from a sample of muddy water we perform the following steps:

1. Allow the muddy water to stand undisturbed for some time.

2. Slowly the mud will settle down in the water.
3. Then we slowly pour the clearer water into another container (decantation).

Practice Question 3: Is it possible to separate sugar mixed with wheat flour? If yes, how will
you do it?
Answer: Yes it is possible to separate sugar mixed with wheat flour by the following method:

1. Mix sugar and wheat flour in water.

2. Stir the solution to allow sugar to dissolve in water.
3. Now filter the mixture.
4. Filtrate contains sugar solution and wheat flour will be obtained as the residue on the
filter paper.
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IV) SOLUTION AND SOLUBILITY

1. When a substance dissolves completely in water it is said to be soluble in water.

2. Solute: A solute is a substance dissolved in another substance.

3. Solvent: A solvent is a liquid that dissolves a solid, liquid or gaseous solute. For
example, water is a solvent.

4. Solution: A solute and a solvent make up a mixture which is called solution. The
substance which is dissolved is called a solute. The liquid in which the solute is
dissolved is called a solvent. For example, sugar (solute) dissolved in water (solvent)
makes a sugar solution.

5. Saturated solution: Water is the most comment solvent on earth. But it can dissolve
only a fixed quantity of solute in it. When no more solute (e.g. Salt) can be dissolved in
the amount of solvent (e.g. Water) taken, the solution is said to be saturated solution.

6. The amount of solute that can be dissolved in water can be increased by heating the
water.

7. However, water dissolves different substances in different amounts.

Practice Question 4: Lemonade is prepared by mixing lemon juice and sugar in water. You
wish to add ice to cool it. Should you add ice to the lemonade before or after dissolving sugar?
In which case would it be possible to dissolve more sugar?
Answer: Ice should be added to lemonade after dissolving sugar in water. It is possible to add
more sugar before adding ice because sugar will be able to dissolve better in water when the
water is at room temperature. (As we know that the amount of solute that can be dissolved in
water can be increased by heating the water.)
After adding ice to water the temperature of lemonade will decrease