Physical Methods Of Separation

I. Separation is one of the important laboratory techniques used by chemists.

Often, when a chemist encounters an unknown mixture, his or her objective is to first separate the mixture into its constituent parts and then to identify them. But, first define the differences among an element, a compound, and a mixture. An element is the simplest type of matter, one that cannot be broken down any further into stable substances. A compound is a substance that is made up of different elements which are chemically combined in a definite ratio. In a mixture, the constituent pure substances are not combined chemically, and they can be separated by physical means. Chemists make use of the differing physical properties of substances in order to separate them. Examples of some of these physical properties are solubility in different solvents, boiling point, melting point, and sublimation point. The solubility of a substance indicates how much of a particular substance called a solute dissolves in a given amount of a solvent, which is often a liquid. The boiling point is the temperature at which a substance changes from the liquid phase to the vapor phase. Sublimation is the transformation of a substance from the solid phase directly to the gas phase without ever entering the liquid phase. This doesnt happen often at atmospheric pressure. Dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) is an example of a solid which sublimes at atmospheric pressure. Some of the physical processes used to carry out separations are evaporation, distillation, extraction, decantation, precipitation or crystallization, filtration, and centrifugation and chromatography.

Objectives: 1.) To know how to use the physical methods of separation. 2.) To be able to distinguish a substance from the other substance. 3.) To know how to use the laboratory apparatus more correctly. 4.) To know the significant of using the separation of physical methods.

PROCEDURES:

=Materials=
100-mL beaker NaCl Chalk dust Stirring rod Alcohol lamp Wire gauze 50-mL graduated cylinder 2 test tube 1-mL CCl4 naphthalene ball 1-mL methylene blue water mortar & pestle evaporating dish funnel spatula filter paper iron stand

A.) We measured 20-ml of water using a 50-mL graduated cylinder and we placed the water in a 100-mL beaker. Our group then added 2 grams of NaCl in the beaker with water and stirred it until all the NaCl dissolved. We also added a pinch of chalk dust to the solution and suggested a way to separate the dust from the solution and a method to recover a pure NaCl out from the solution. B.) The group grinded a small amount of NaCl and naphthalene ball using a mortar & pestle and placed the mixture in an evaporating dish. Then we inverted a filter funnel into the evaporating dish and slowly heated the mixture using an alcohol lamp .Lastly, we wrote what happened and stopped the process when ample amount of compound adheres in the funnel. C.) The group added 5-mL of water in a big test tube A and putted a small piece of iodine crystal. We shook it for 5 minutes. Then we transferred the liquid portion into the test tube B. Lastly, we added 1-mL of CCl 4 to test tube B and observed. D.) We placed 15-mL of water in a beaker and added 1-mL of methylene blue, and then we filtered and observed it. The group repeated the same procedures, this time we added a spatula of activated charcoal and heated to oil for 10 minutes. And lastly, we cool the mixture then filtered and observed it again.

II.

Data

V.

Discussion
A.) For the separation method used in separating the chalk dust from NaCl solution we used the filtration process which was our answer because it was a process which was the separation of a solid from liquid by passing the mixture through a suitable separation medium and we got the correct answer.

For getting the pure NaCl the method we used was evaporation because it was the process by which a substance changes from a liquid to a vapor. It was suitable one for the question because as NaCl solution heated and evaporated the only thing that left was NaCl, we got the correct answer.

B.)

After we performed the procedures of B about the separation of grinded the NaCl and naphthalene ball we came up with an answer of the compound adheres in the funnel which was naphthalene ball form into crystals which was correct. For the compound remained in the evaporating dish still about the separation of grinded the NaCl and naphthalene ball we able to distinguish the compound it was the NaCl which was our answer and that answer was correct. The answer of the separation method that was emphasized on the process of separating the grinded the NaCl and naphthalene ball was sublimation because this was a formation of a vapor directly from a solid without going through the liquid phase and this process was very fitted for the separation method thats why our answer was exactly correct.

C.)

In the separating of the liquid portion of the solution of iodine and water we used the separation method which was decantation because it was a process of pouring from one vessel to another with leaving sediment behind and we decided that this process was appropriate enough for the problem thats why that was our answer which was correct .

For the solution in the test tube after adding the CCl4, the solution produced a clear liquid and produced pink color at the bottom of the test tube which was our observation as well as our answer and which was also correct. The separation method that we used for the adding of CCl4 to the solution in the test tube was extraction because this was a process to withdraw by physical or chemical means or to pull out by force and as we observed, it was fitted answer for the problem and we got the correct answer.

D.)

The color of the filtrate after we added the 1-mL of methylene blue into the 15-mL of water in a beaker and then filtered was blue. Thats what our answer which was exactly correct. For the color of the filtrate after we added the activated charcoal into the 15-mL water with 1-mL methylene blue the color was black which was wrong because one of my partners accidentally tear up the filtrate paper that made it mistake and the possible answer for that was white or colorless color. For the separation method we emphasized the filtration process in the adding of 1-mL methylene blue into the 15-mL of water and addition of activated charcoal which was wrong because we committed a mistake in filtering the solution and the separation method that fitted to use was adsorption.

Conclusion
Each of us was lucky enough to know how to apply or performed the different physical methods of separation as well as knowing its meaning and comprehended it. We also able to tell apart a substance from the other substance by using the different physical methods and now we expect a lot that our ability in using the different apparatus enhanced more. And we made out that the significant of the physical methods of separation are to transform a mixture of substances into two or more distinct products, detect and identify elements and compounds using a variety of physical methods, and accurate, sensitive and rapid and are particularly useful when the amount of a sample is very small and complicated to find an answer.

I.

References:

http://www.visionlearning.com/library/module_viewer.php?mid=37 http://www.tu-cottbus.de/btu/de/service/www-1-suche.html General Organic and Biochemistry 8th Edition Hein/ Best/ Patti son/ Arena Copyright @ 2005 John Wily & Sons. Inc. General College Chemistry 6th Edition Keenan. Kleinfelter. Wood Copyright @ 1980 by Charles W. Keenan. Donald C. Kleinfelter and Jesse H. Wood

Book: Author: Publication: Book: Author: Publication:

LABORATORY REPORT
Physical Methods of Separation

Submitted by: Euricka D. Recososa Submitted to: Mr. Ritchie T. Dagumo

Year: 2009- 2010 Subject: Chemistry (laboratory) Date: 09/08/09