Unit 5 - Properties of materials

Most of the time the substances we see around us are not pure. They are a mixture of two or more
substances. Interestingly, mixtures also come in different forms. Therefore, there are several types
of separation techniques that are used in segregating a mixture of substances. As for the need for
separation, it is usually done to remove all the unwanted materials and obtain useful components.

Evaporation

Evaporation is a technique that is used in separating a mixture, usually a solution of a solvent and a
soluble solid. In this method, the solution is heated until the organic solvent evaporates where it
turns into a gas and mostly leaves behind the solid residue.

Distillation
When mixtures consist of two or more pure liquids then distillation is used. Here the components
of a liquid mixture are vaporized, condensed and then isolated. The mixture is heated and the
volatile component evaporates first. The vapour moves through a condenser and is collected in a
liquid state.

Filtration or Sedimentation

The most common method of separating a liquid from an insoluble solid is filtration. Take, for
example, the mixture of sand and water. Filtration is used here to remove solid particles from the
liquid. Various filtering agents are normally used like filtering paper or other materials.
Sedimentation is a process by which heavier impurities in liquid normally water settle down at the
bottom of the container containing the mixture. The process takes some amount of time.

Properties of Acids and Alkalis -

ACIDS

● Turn blue litmus red

● Taste sour
● Corrode metals
● Positively charged hydrogen ions

ALKALIS

● Turn red litmus blue

● Taste bitter
● Negatively charged hydroxide ions
● Feel slippery
● Most hand soaps and drain cleaners are alkalis
● Strong alkalis are caustic

pH scale
Indicators

Indicators are weak acids or weak bases that show a change in colour as the concentration of
Hydrogen ions in a solution changes or the pH of a solution changes.
Universal indicator

The common indicators may or may not show colour change over a wide range of pH but only for a
small range. This makes it difficult to identify a range of acids or bases. This problem is solved by
universal indicators. Universal Indicator is an indicator that is used to show a colour change in a
wide range of Acids and Bases. They are formed by mixing multiple indicators in a fixed proportion
that change their colour over a wide range of pH values.