WAYS OF SEPARATING

MIXTURES
Directions: Describe how will you separate these
mixtures.

1. Salt solution
2. Sand + iron filings
3. Oil + water
4. Ash and water
5. Gravel and sand
Mixtures can be separated by physical means…
1.

Filtration – the process of

separating mixtures through a
filter paper.

Residue - the insoluble solid that

remains on the filter paper.

Filtrate – the liquid that passes

through the filter paper.
2. Evaporation – is a process in which a liquid
changes into gaseous form on heating allowing
the liquid to evaporate leaving the soluble solid
behind.
3. Distillation – the process of separating the
components of a mixture through vaporization.
- The liquid with the lowest boiling point
vaporizes first, followed by the liquid with the
next higher boiling point.
Distillate – the liquid collected in the receiver
flask.
4. Decantation – the process of obtaining clear
liquid by pouring a solution from a container in
order to leave the sediments in the bottom of the
original container.

Decantate – solid particles that settle at the

bottom of the container.
5. Magnetization – is a process in which
magnetically susceptible material is extracted
from a mixture using a magnetic force.

6. Centrifugation – is a widely used method of

separating mixtures according to the different
densities of the components.
 Spin sample very rapidly: denser materials go
to the bottom (outside)
 Separate blood into serum and plasma
-Plasma- less dense
- liquid part of the blood
-Erythrocytes – red blood cells
7. Chromatography – allows separation of
different pigment colors
Other Methods of Separating Mixtures

1. Winnowing – the mixture is allowed to fall from

a height. The lighten components get separated
from the heavier ones because of wind or air
blow.
2. Sifting or Sieving – is used to separate dry
mixture which contains substances of different
sizes by passing it through a sieve.
3. Straining – pour mainly liquid substance
through a porous device or material in order to
separate out any solid material.
4. Threshing- is the method that generally used
by the farmers to separate the grains from the
stalks after harvesting.
-The dried stalks are beaten or threshed to
separate the grains.
-In large farms threshing is done by using
threshing machines.
5. Hand Picking – the components of a solid-
solid mixture/
- Only useful when the particles are large
enough to be seen clearly.
 Which Method?
1. You have been given a mixture of lemon juice
and water. Which method or methods will you
use to separate this mixture? Why?

+
2. You have been given a mixture of sand, salt and
water. Which method or methods will you use to
separate this mixture? Why?

+ +

3. How do you separate a mixture of salt,

sand and iron filings?