• Objective:

To study the process of leaching by extraction of pure salt (NaCl) from rock salt (mixture of salt and
sand) by using warm water as a solvent.

To calculate percentage recovery of salt from the solution made from rock salt and warm water.

• Abstract:
In this experiment we will be doing the solid liquid extraction operation, called as the leaching. Different
experiments are being performed and then the percentage recovery is being calculated. The experiment
is being performed according to the standards that must met while reporting the experiment. The
results has been displayed in tabulated form, through which the experimental report is to be analyzed.

• Theory:
Within the chemical industry, the process of leaching is commonly referred to as extraction. Let's look at
this diagram of how the leaching, or extraction, process works.
First, the solvent comes into contact with the solid matrix. A solvent is usually a liquid that functions to
dissolve a substance or solute. A solute is the substance being dissolved by a solvent. Thus, the solvent
would be the liquid and the solute would be the substance you would like to extract from the solid
matrix. Again, referring to our tea example, the solute would be your green tea extracted while the
solvent would be the hot water.

Diagram 2: Step-by-Step Leaching Process For Chemical Industry Use

Next, the solvent travels through the solid matrix, separating the substance, or solute, from this matrix
so that it can be collected. This step is commonly referred to as percolation, which is really just a fancy
word for filtering. You are essentially filtering out, or separating, the solute you desire from the solid
matrix, using a solvent.

• Experimental procedure:
1. Take the known quantity if salt i.e. 15 grams of sand of quantity 7 grams in a beaker and shake
it well to mix them properly.
2. Add 80ml of distilled warm water in the beaker and stir the solution to dissolve salt in water.
3. Keep on stirring the solution for at least 5 minutes.
4. Now filter the solution with help of filter paper to separate the brine solution and sand. Brine
solution will pass through the filter paper and sand will rest on the filter paper.
5. Place the filter paper with sand in the petri dish and place in it the oven maintained at 110° C for
45 minutes.
6. Keep in weighing again and again until the constant readings are obtained.

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 7. Put the Brine solution on hot plate with continuous stirring of solution. Evaporation of solution
will begin and time will come when very small quantity of water will remain in salt.
8. Now remove the beaker from hot plate and put it into the oven maintained at 110° C to remove
the traces of water.
9. Now weigh the salt again and again to get the constant reading.
10. Now perform the calculations and determine the percentage recovery of salt.

• Observation & Calculations:

✓ Before extraction

Weight of empty beaker 111.258 g

Weight of salt (NaCl) A 4.997 g
Wt of sand 10.001 g
Total weight of sand+salt 14.9980 g
Wt. of magnetic stirrer 5.666 g
Wt. of spatula 35.59 g

✓ After extraction
Wt. of empty beaker + salt 115.450 g
Wt. of salt B 4.282 g
Difference in weight of salt 0.7150 g
Percentage recovery 86.15%
• Discussion:
If we perform experiment using distilled water with lesser amount salt as compared to water then the
percentage recovery obtained at same conditions with more salt and lesser solute will produce a higher
percentage recovery.

• Limitation:
To compare the values for experiment, the experiment must not be performed in different conditions of
temperature and pressure, this may affect the results badly.