Separating Mixtures

Mixtures The most common way matter is found Examples-air, fresh water, soil Usually easy to separate They are easy to separate because of the differences the properties of the material that make up the mixture.

Discussion If you had a sandbox and someone dropped a whole box of small nails in it, how could you clean the sandbox up so that children could use it again?

Used when the mixture is composed of substances of different sized particles. The mixture is poured through a sieve or filter (strainer) The smaller particles slip through the holes but the larger particles are caught by the filter. Zeolites are used to remove microscopic particles. Layers of filters can be used to separate mixtures Filtration

Great for separating solutions Great for separating solutions. You are able to remove the solvent from the solute. Heat until the solvent evaporates (forms a vapor) and leaves the solute behind as a residue The solvent will need to reach its boiling point to become water vapor. Evaporation

Examples of Evaporation In the atmosphere when rain leave the soil. Sweating Clothing or your hair drying Paint drying Plant wilting

Distillation Ocean Water forming Distilled Water What is this? Examples Distillation Ocean Water forming Distilled Water What is this? This is really the process of evaporation and condensation to create a pure substance. A mixture is boiled, the vapor is captured, and condensed The vapor free of the impurities which are left behind.

Chromotography What happens Types: (something like a gas or liquid) moving over the surface of something else in another state of matter (a liquid or solid) that stays where it is.  Types: Paper Chromatography: Filter paper is used to trap particles Column Chromatography: Vertical glass jar packed with a gel or Crystals. Gas Chromatography: Requires a machine

Mechanical Sorting Sorting Floating/Settling (density) Magnetism Centrifuging

Mechanical Sorting Picking individual items out by sight. Usually large items that can be removed with tweezers or by hand. Think about sorting laundry

Floating/Settling Density will cause items to float or sink. Items that float can be skimmed off Items that settle can be separated by removing the material that floats. Think Suspensions Floating/Settling

Magnetism Uses the magnetic properties of one substance to pull it away from the nonmagnetic substance At least one material must be magnetic to use this method

Centrifuging Used when solids in a liquid are so small they cannot be captured by a filter. The item are spun very quickly in a centrifuge causing the substances to separate. Uses Blood-separates by density Spin clothes in a washer Separate butter from Cream