SEPARATION LAB

Purpose The main purpose of this lab is to give you experience with techniques for separating different kinds of matter based on their physical properties.

Separation The matter around you consists mostly of mixtures. Some samples of matter are compounds and a very few are elements. For example, “gold” jewelry actually contains a blend of gold, silver and copper atoms. Since the substances in a mixture only interact physically, mixtures are separated by taking advantage of the differences in the physical properties of each component.

Separation Substances vary widely in their physical properties, so there is also a variety of separation techniques. A brief list includes: distillation, filtration, magnetic, chromatography, evaporation, decanting, and extraction. You will have the opportunity to practice four of these techniques.

Pre-Lab Activity List at least TEN physical properties of matter in your Lab Notebook. Physical Properties:

Materials matter samples A, B, C, D deionized water ring stand & ring funnel filter paper beakers mL, 250 mL graduated cylinder mL evaporating dish & watch glass tongs magnet glass rod plastic sandwich bag conductivity indicator balance hot plate

Matter Samples D A B C

 Be careful to keep the Matter Samples separate!  Always return the plastic spoon to the container that it came from.  If you take too much of the matter, you may carefully return the unneeded matter to its container.  If you spill, wipe up the spilled matter and THROW IT AWAY!!!  Used matter goes in the appropriate Used Matter container.

Separation Techniques 1. Filtration 2. Evaporation 3. Magnetic 4. Decanting

Filtration Materials: Beakers and 250 mL Matter Sample C Balance Stirring rod Deionized water Graduated cylinder Conductivity indicator Ring stand & ring Funnel Filter paper VOCAB:  deionized  supernatant  filtrate

Evaporation Materials: Matter Sample A Balance Beaker mL Deionized water Graduated cylinder Conductivity indicator Evaporating dish Tongs Hot Plate  Watch glass  Turn the hot plate on before measuring Matter Sample A. Turn the hot plate OFF when liquid is evaporated.

Magnetic Materials: Beakers and 250 mL Matter Samples C and D Stirring rod Magnet Plastic bag NOTE: You may need to repeat the separation procedure to successfully separate Mixture 3.

Decanting Materials: Beakers and 250 mL Matter Samples C and A Deionized water Graduated cylinder Stirring rod Conductivity indicator NOTE: If any solid material does flow into the 250 mL beaker, pour ALL the mixture back into the 150 mL beaker and start over. HINT: It is better to leave some liquid in the 150 mL beaker rather than allowing solid to flow into the 250 mL beaker.

Data Table MixtureBefore separation * After separation * Conductivity *NOTE: Make sure that you have enough space in your Data Table for sketches of each mixture.

Procedural Questions Why did you use a pencil to write your initials on the filter paper? Why did you cover the evaporating dish? Why did you use a watch glass instead of a tightly-fitting lid to cover the evaporating dish? Why did you rinse Matter Sample C twice during the decanting procedure?

Analytical Questions Identify Matter Samples A, C and D. Support your identification with data from this Lab and experiences from your daily life. Hypothetically identify Matter Sample B. Describe how you could confirm your hypothesis. Remember the Lab Safety Rules. Were you able to separate each mixture into its components? Why or why not? Explain for each mixture. Include the physical properties that made it possible to separate each mixture. Choose a Mixture from this Lab. Sketch the arrangement of the particles in the Mixture before separation and after separation.

Application Questions Describe a real world mixture that could be completely or partially separated using the property of magnetism. Name a mixture that you use regularly.* Describe a procedure that you could use to separate this mixture. (Consider physical properties from your Pre-Lab Activity list as well as the ones from this Lab.) *3 bonus points if you are the only one to name the mixture; 1 bonus point if 1 or 2 other classmates name the mixture; zero bonus points if 3 or more classmates name the mixture.