Pure Substance & Mixture

Separation Techniques
❑ Matter can be classified into several categories
❑ Two broad categories are pure substances and

mixtures
❑ Pure substances can be further subdivided into two:

elements and compounds

❑ Mixtures can also be divided into two:

homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures

o Form of matter with definite and
unchanging chemical composition, as
well as distinct properties

o Can further be divided into two:

element and compound
o Substance made up of only one type
of atom
o Cannot be broken down by ordinary
chemical means
o The Modern Periodic Table currently
contains 118 elements, some are
natural, some are man-made
o Substance made up of two or more types of atom

o Can be separated by chemical reactions

o Form of matter made up of 2 or more
physically combined substances with
variable proportions
o Can be a physical combination of 2
elements or 2 compound
o Can be further divided into 2:
homogeneous and heterogeneous
mixture
o This type of mixture is sometimes
referred to as “solution”.

o Relatively uniform in composition;

meaning every part of the mixture is
identical to the whole.
o A solution is a substance composed of
2 parts: solute and solvent.
 Part of the solution
Part of the solution
that conducts the
that is dissolved.
dissolving.
o Solutions are well-mixed and generally appear like a
single substance.
o This is because the solute particles dissolved are too small
to be seen.

o There are 3 types of solution based on saturation:

unsaturated, saturated, and supersaturated solution.
 Unsaturated Saturated Supersaturated

The amount of solute is The amount of solute is

lesser than what the The amount of solute is greater than what the
solvent can dissolve; the just enough for the solvent can dissolve; the
solvent can still dissolve solvent’s dissolving solvent can no longer
more solute. capability. dissolve all the solute.
Can be expressed as: Can be expressed as: Can be expressed as:
solute < solvent solute = solvent solute > solvent
o Type of mixture whose components
can be distinguished from one
another.
o Can contain more than one phase of
matter.

o Components can be separated by

physical means.
❑ As mentioned, mixtures can be separated by
physical means.
❑ This is because in mixtures, each individual
component still retains its physical properties.
❑ These properties are the basis of which separation

technique is appropriate to use.

❖ Filtration ❖ Melting
❖ Decantation ❖ Sublimation
❖ Centrifugation ❖ Distillation
❖ Magnetic Separation ❖ Chromatography
❖ Evaporation
o The process of separating components of a
suspension.
o Sand and water solution is a sample of
mixture which can be separated by means of
filtration.
o Sand (solid particle) can be strained and
water (liquid) is allowed to pass through the
filter.
o The substance which remains in the strainer
is residue, and the liquid passing through
the strainer is filtrate.
o Solid particles are allowed to settle first at
the bottom.
o Later, the liquid, which is called
supernatant, is poured into another
container.
o This leaves behind the solid particle in the
first container.
o In centrifugation, the mixture is poured into
a special tube in the centrifuge apparatus.
o Afterwards, the device is allowed to spin
using centrifugal force.
o The spinning motion forces the sediments to
settle at the bottom.
o The liquid can then be poured off from the
solid particles.
o The process of separating elemental metals
from other particles in a mixture.
o This process makes us of a magnet which
exerts magnetic force to attract metallic
particles.
o This sets them apart from a certain mixture.
o This is the process of converting liquid to
gas.
o This is useful in sorting mixtures such as salt
solution.
o When this mixture is placed in an
evaporating dish and is heated, the water
will vaporize; leaving the salt in the dish.
o Process that can be used in extricating mixtures that contain 2
substances with different melting points, like alloys made of copper
and zinc.
o The zinc, which has lower melting point, will liquefy first, and hence,
will break up from copper.
o Process of changing solid to gas without passing through the liquid
state.
o Naphthalene is an example of a substance
that undergoes sublimation.
o When it is left at a certain place,
a change in its shape can be
observed that indicates it is
turning into a gas from its solid
state.
o A process of separating a homogeneous mixture composed of 2
substances with different boiling points.
o It is a method that generally uses 2 phase changes: evaporation and
condensation.
o Through evaporation and condensation at different temperatures, 2
liquids are collected one at a time.
o This technique is used in extracting ethanol from a wine sample.
o Another method of separating complex mixtures.

o It has various methods, like paper chromatography, which makes use

of adsorbent (filter paper or chromatogram paper).

o The separation depends upon the solubility of each component of a

water-based ink.