Methods to Separate Mixtures

SYLLABUS DOT POINTS:

IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE PROCEDURES THAT
CAN BE USED TO SEPARATE NATURALLY
OCCURRING MIXTURES OF:
SOLIDS OF DIFFERENT SIZES
SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS
DISSOLVED SOLIDS IN LIQUIDS
LIQUIDS
GASES
ASSESS SEPARATION TECHNIQUES FOR THEIR
SUITABILITY IN SEPARATING EXAMPLES OF
EARTH MATERIALS, IDENTIFYING THE
DIFFERENCES IN PROPERTIES WHICH ENABLE
THESE SEPARATIONS

Why Separate?
Most of the mixtures we extract from the Earth have to be
separated into their components before we can use them.
For example salt (sodium chloride) from water.
Very few mixtures are used as they are: coal, sand for
concrete and glass, sandstone, granite and other rocks for
buildings.
Since the different particles within a mixture are not all
chemically bonded together, and since each has different
properties, they can be separated fairly easily by simple
physical processes.

Properties
A PROPERTY IS A CHARACTERISTIC OR
FEATURE OF SOMETHING. THEY CAN BE
PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL.

Properties
Physical Properties
A physical property is one
that is displayed without
any change in composition.
Density
Colour
Conductivity
Malleability
Luster

Chemical Properties
Any characteristic that
gives a sample of matter
the ability/inability to
undergo a change that
alters its composition.
Reactivity
Toxicity
Stability
Bond strength

Solids of different sizes

SIEVING Small particles fall through the sieve and
larger particles are caught. E.g. Separating sand from
gravel to make concrete.

Solid suspended in liquid

Suspension: is a dispersion of particles through a
liquid with the particles being sufficiently large that
they eventually settle on standing.
The solid is INSOLUBLE (it does not dissolve in the
liquid).
Example: Sand mixed with water
NOTE: mixtures of solids can be separated based on
their SOLUBILITY one solid is soluble (dissolves) in
a solvent while the other is insoluble (doesnt dissolve)
e.g. sand and salt.

Solid suspended in liquid

FILTRATION (Particle
Size) The liquid or
solution passes through the
paper while the suspended
solid remains on top of the
filter paper

SEDIMENTATION
followed by DECANTING
(Density) Once the solids
settle to the bottom, the
liquid is carefully poured
off leaving the solid
undisturbed.

Dissolved solids in liquids

Solution: A solid dissolved in a liquid
Solute: Dissolved solid
Solvent: Liquid that dissolves the solid
EVAPORATION To collect the solid solute. The
solvent (liquid) is vaporised (liquid to gas)
DISTILLATION To collect the liquid solvent. The
solution is boiled with the vapour formed being
condensed back to a liquid in a different part of the
apparatus.

Miscible Liquids
Miscible 2 liquids dissolved in each other
Example: alcohol and water; oil in petrol
DISTILLATION used when there is a large
difference in boiling points. The more volatile is
vaporised, condensed becoming the distillate. (the
liquid with lower boiling point)
FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION separates liquids
with small differences in boiling points using a
fractionating column.

Immiscible Liquids
Immiscible 2 liquids do not mix (oil and water)
SEPARATING FUNNEL (Different Densities) Pear
shaped funnel tapers to a narrow tube with a cork
allowing the denser liquid to be collected

Gases
FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION Air is liquefied by
cooling then gradually heated in a fractional column to
be collected separately.