Methods of Mixture Separation Mechanical Separation (often by hand) takes advantage of physical properties such as color and shape. Example: Recycling Plastic, Paper, Metal

Methods of Mixture Separation 2) Magnetic Separation takes advantage of the physical property of magnetism. Example: Separating Metals in a Scrap Yard

Magnetic Separation Example Turbo Beads Animation This video clip illustrate how tiny (nanoparticle size) magnetic beads called Turbo Beads can be used to separate dissolved impurities (magnetic chemical compounds) from water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlGQ6wd8_Jk

Methods of Mixture Separation 3) Filtration takes advantage of the physical property of the state of matter. A screen lets the liquid particles through, but traps the solid particles. Example: Filtering Coffee, Spaghetti

A filter can also be used to separate solid particles of different sizes. (ex. a window screen, an air filter, a sand sieve)

Methods of Mixture Separation 4) Decanting: To pour off a liquid, leaving another liquid or solid behind. Takes advantage of differences in density. Example: To decant a liquid from a precipitate or water from rice.

Methods of Mixture Separation 5 ) Distillation: The separation of a mixture of liquids based on the physical property of boiling point. Example: the distillation of alcohol or oil

Distillation Animation This animation shows how two liquids dissolved together can be separated by distillation at their respective and different boiling points. http://www.footprints-science.co.uk/index.php?module=2&type=Distillation&section=Section1&info=10

A distillation tower or “still” used in crude oil refining

Methods of Mixture Separation 6) Evaporation: Vaporizing a liquid and leaving the dissolved solid(s) behind. Used to separate salt solutions. Example: Obtaining sea salt from sea water evaporation ponds

Methods of Mixture Separation 7) Density Separation: More dense components sink to the bottom and less dense components float. The components cannot be soluble within each other.

Methods of Mixture Separation 8) Centrifuge: Circular motion helps denser components sink to the bottom faster. Examples: The separation of blood or DNA from blood

DNA Separation Animation This video animation explains how DNA is separated out of blood. Centrifuging is used multiple times in the process. http://mmia.iupui.edu/application/files/dna_isolation_rev.swf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cYvyYOjzOc

Methods of Mixture Separation 9) Paper chromatography: Uses the property of molecular attraction (molecular polarity) to separate a mixture. Different molecules have varying molecular attractions for the paper (the stationary phase) vs. the solvent (the mobile phase) Example: the separation of plant pigments and dyes

Chromatography Animation This animation shows how the different molecular components of a mixture are separated out based upon their varying molecular attractions for the mobile phase (a solvent like water) and the stationary phase (like paper or resin beads). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m8bWKHmRMM

Methods of Mixture Separation 10) Fractional Crystallization: Dissolved substances crystallize out of a solution once their solubility limit is reached as the solution cools. Examples: Growing Rock Candy or the Crystallization of a Magma Chamber

Fractional Crystallization Animation This animation shows how fractional crystallization occurs in natural magma chambers (below ground) as the magma cools and the different mineral components reach their solubility limits at different temperatures during the cooling process. https://davehirsch.com/other/animations/settling.shtml