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Separation of Mixture

October 2, 2020

Hasan Haji Ali

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Introduction:

According to Toughtco, “a mixture forms when two or more substances are combined

such that each substance retains its own chemical identity” (Helmenstine, 2019). In order to

separate a mixture, we have chemical process and physical process. However, while separating

mixture by chemical process, we might encounter some problems because each substance has its

own chemical and physical properties. Sometimes, we use chemical reactions to get the product

that we want, but it might be difficult to conduct this experiment using chemical process.

Thereby, in this experiment several physical techniques which are sublimation, filtration, and

evaporation have been used to separate a mixture consisting of different chemical components

which are ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), sodium chloride (NaCl), and silicon dioxide (SiO2) in

order to get precise results.

Materials:

 NH4Cl

 NaCl

 SiO2

 Balance

 Evaporating dish

 Heater (Hot plate)

 Distilled water

 Filter funnel

 Filter paper
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 Conical flask 250 ml

 Crucible tongs

 Stirring rod

 Hand Protector

 Dish for holding filter paper in oven

Materials in Pictures:
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Procedures:

To conduct this experiment, we had recorded the mass of a clean, dry evaporating dish.

Then, we put a sample of a mixture in the evaporating dish. After that, we calculated the mass of

mixture with the evaporating dish. Then, we placed the mixture on a hot plate to sublimate

NH4Cl: this appeared as a white smoke, and we continued heating until no longer white smoke is

produced. When the white smoke is no longer produced, we took off the evaporating dish from

the hot plate, and we let it to cool down to the room temperature. After that, we measured its

mass again, and by subtracting both masses; we got the net mass of NH4Cl. Then, we recorded

the mass of filter paper, and we measured a specific amount of water in order to dissolve the salt

in the mixture, then, with a stirring rod, we stir the mixture to dissolve the salt. To continue

conducting this experiment, we measured the mass of a clean conical flask. Then, we placed the

filter funnel into the conical flask, and we placed the filter paper into the filter funnel. After that,

we added some water to let the filter paper stick to the filter funnel, and we added the mixture

into the filter paper. Then, we waited some time until all of the solution drained into the conical

flask. After that, we placed the filter paper into the lab oven in order to evaporate the water

molecules that are stick to the sand particles. While the filter paper was in the lab oven, we

placed the solution on the heater to evaporate the water, and to get the salt back. After that, we

measured the mass of conical flask with salt, and by subtracting both masses; we got the net

mass of salt. Finally, we measured the mass of the sand and filter paper, and by subtracting

masses, we got the net mass of sand.

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Procedure in pictures:
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Data and Results:

After conducting the experiment of the separation of mixture by sublimation, filtration,

and evaporation techniques, we got these data:

Table: This table shows the percent yield by mass of each component in our mixture.

Components Percentages

NH4Cl 7.9

NaCl 28.2

SiO2 63.9

Graph: This graph shows the percentage of each component.

Percentage of Ammonium Chloride, Sodium

Chloride, and Silicon Dioxide

7.9%

NH4Cl
NaCl
SiO2
28.2%

63.9%
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Observations and Discussion:

After conducting this experiment, we observed that the mass of ammonium chloride was

0.1752g, the mass of sodium chloride was 0.63g, and the mass of silicon dioxide was 1.425g.

Then, we used these formulas:

mass of ammonium chloride

%NH 4 Cl= ∗100
Total mass of mixture

mass of sodium cloride

% NaCl= ∗100
Total mass of mixture

mass of silicondioxide
% SiO 2= ∗100
Total mass of mixture

To find the percent yield by mass of each components. We figured out that the percent of

ammonium chloride was 7.9%, the percent of sodium chloride was 28.2%, and the percent of

silicon dioxide was 63.9%. The purpose of this experiment was separating different components

from mixture by using different physical techniques which are sublimation, filtration, and

evaporation techniques. While conducting this experiment, we might face some difficulties or

problems. To clarify, because we deal with hot plates and chemical substances, we might face

some risks. Moreover, while conducting this experiment, we might not record precise

measurements, and this might lead to errors in our calculation and conducting the experiment

precisely. For example, if a student took 20 ml of water instead of 10 ml of water while

extracting salt from the mixture, he might get less mass of sodium chloride. If someone conducts

this experiment again, I suggest that he clean his equipment more carefully, and he record his

findings more precisely.

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Conclusion:

Separating the mixture of ammonium chloride, sodium chloride, and silicon dioxide by

sublimation, filtration, and evaporation was the purpose of this experiment. After conducting this

experiment, we find out that each component of our mixture has a different percent yield by

mass from the mixture.

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Works Cited

Anne Marie Helmenstine, P. (n.d.). What a Mixture Is (And Is Not) in Science. Retrieved

October 02, 2020, from https://www.thoughtco.com/mixture-definition-chemistry-

glossary-606374

Lab Manual