Mixture

Separation
Methods Ada C. Bersoza Hernández
Matter & the Environment
 Matter

Yes No
Pure
Mixture Can it be separated
through physical substance
means?
Uniform
composition? Can it be chemically
No decomposed?
Yes Yes No
Homogeneous Heterogeneous
mixture (solution) mixture
Compound Element

Colloid Suspension
 Matter

Yes No
Pure
Mixture Can it be separated
through physical substance
means?
Uniform
composition? Can it be chemically
No decomposed?
Yes Yes No
Homogeneous Heterogeneous
mixture (solution) mixture
Compound Element

Colloid Suspension
Methods of separating mixtures
Separation Technique Property used for separation
Sifting (sieving) Particle size
Visual sorting Color, shape, or size
Magnetic attraction Magnetism
Decantation Density or solubility
Separating funnel Density of liquids
Filtration Solubility
Evaporation Solubility and boiling point
Distillation Boiling point
Centrifugation Density
Chromatography Density and solubility
 Sifting/Sieving

Method for separating solid-solid mixtures with particles of

different sizes using a sieve (tool with small holes)
Visual sorting

Picking apart different parts of a

mixture based on color, shape, or size.
Magnetic attraction Example: Separating
Iron and Salt Mixture

Separating a mixture of a magnetic substance and a

non-magnetic substance using a magnet
Decantation
Example

Separation technique consisting on allowing the different

substances to settle and then gradually pouring one into another
container. Typically used to separate solid-liquid heterogeneous
mixtures.
Separating funnel
Technique allowing immiscible
liquids of different densities to
separate. The less dense
substance floats to the top and
the denser substance can be
poured out from under the funnel
Example
Filtration

Technique for separating solids

Example from a liquid using a porous barrier
Evaporation Technique for separating a
soluble solid from a liquid
by using heat to change the
liquid from liquid to a gas

Example
Distillation

Technique for separating two soluble liquids (homogeneous mixture)

consisting of boiling a liquid mixture and condensing the resulting vapor.
Centrifugation
Example

Separation method consisting of

spinning a mixture at high speed.
Chromatography

Mixture separation method consisting of a mobile and a stationary phase.

Different components of the mixture separate because they flow at varying
rates across the mobile phase.
Questions?
Knowledge
Check
What method would you use
to separate a mixture of water
and alcohol?
Distillation

Alcohol has a lower boiling point than water, so it will evaporate first.
What method
would you use
to recover only
the sugar from
a sugar water
mixture?
Evaporation The water will evaporate, leaving
behind the sugar crystals
What method would you use
to separate a mixture of
muddy water?
Decantation
Example

The mud will settle at the bottom, and the water can then be
poured out carefully.
What method
would you use
to separate a
mixture of oil
and water?
Separating funnel
Oil and water do not mix with
each other, so they form two
separate layers that can be
carefully poured out.
What method would you use
to separate the contents of
Italian dressing?
Filtration

The oil will pour out and the solid

elements will stay behind.
What method would you use
to take out the raising from
trail mix?
Visual sorting

Elements are solid and can be easily

picked apart by hand
What method would you use to
separate rocks from a soil
sample?
 Sifting/Sieving

Soil will fall out of the sieve and rocks will remain behind.
Questions?