Mixtures 5 methods for separating mixtures

What is a Mixture? A mixture is a substance made by combining two or more different materials in such a way that no chemical reaction occurs. 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 M&M's candy.

5 Methods for Separating Mixtures Chromatography Evaporation Filtration Magnetic attraction Settling

Chromatography a physical method of separation in which the parts to be separated are distributed between two phases, one of which is stationary (stationary phase) while the other moves in a definite direction (the mobile phase). Ink pigment alcohol paper

Evaporation The process where atoms or molecules in a liquid state gain enough energy to enter the gaseous state. When a liquid reaches its boiling point, all the particles in the liquid will be able to get enough energy to break free from each other. The remaining solute will be left after all the liquid has “boiled away” Evaporation can occur when liquids are cold or when they are warm. It Evaporation occurs at a faster rate when a solution or liquid is heated.

Filtration Filtration is done by passing a mixture through a filter. The RESIDUE is the substance that remains on the filter paper. The FILTRATE is the substance that flows through the filter paper. Filtration can remove suspended material from a solvent as long as the pores in the filter paper are smaller than the particles of the suspended substance. The atomic sized building blocks of the salt can easily pass through the small holes of the filter paper while the sand particles, shown on the right, are trapped and remain in the filter paper. sand/salt mixture

Magnetic Attraction Using a magnet to separate Magnetic materials, e.g. iron, steel, nickel, cobalt from non-magnetic ones in a mixture. If only one part of a mechanical mixture is attracted to a magnet, a magnet can be used to separate that part from the rest of the mixture Separating a Mixture of Sand & Iron filings

Settling A separation technique in which a “heavier” part of the mixture sinks to the bottom of a liquid, and the liquid can be poured off to separate the mixture. This process involves letting an insoluble substance (a substance that will not dissolve in a solvent) settle at the bottle of a solvent. Sedimentation occurs when the suspended particles are large enough to settle to the bottom of a vessel under their own weight.