Separating Mechanical Mixtures

 Filtration is a common method of separating an insoluble solid from a liquid. An example of a mixture is sand and water. This process involves the use of a filter paper placed in a filter funnel. The funnel is placed in a beaker and the mixture of water and sand is poured into the funnel. The liquid part drains through the filter paper into the beaker, leaving the solid sand particles trapped on the filter.
Filtration is a common method of separating an insoluble solid from a liquid.
True or False?

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• False

In some cases there are suspension mixtures where the solid particles are too fine to be separated with a filter. In these cases, sometimes a centrifuge is used. Centrifuges are mechanical devices that spin at very high speeds. These high speeds allow the solid particles in suspensions to settle very quickly.
When is a centrifuge used?

• where the mixture is chemically combined
• for big particles
• for large amounts
• where the solid particles are too fine to be separated with a filter

Magnetism is ideal for separating mixtures of two solids with one part having magnetic properties. Some metals like iron, nickel and cobalt have magnetic properties whiles gold, silver and aluminum do not. Magnetic elements are attracted to a magnet.
How would you separate iron filings mixed with sand?

• evaporation
• fractional distillation
• filtration
• magnetism

Sorting Definition:

physically separating large pieces of a mechanical mixture so that similar pieces are together

• True

• False

Floating Definition:

a separation technique in which a “heavier” component sinks to the bottom of a liquid, and the liquid can be poured off

• True

• False

Settling Definition:

a separation technique in which a “lighter” component rises to the top of a liquid where it can be skimmed or poured off

• True

• False

Sieve: a device used to separate the components of a mixture, with many visible holes that allow smaller solid pieces and liquids to pass through while blocking the larger solid pieces

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• False

Filtration: the process of passing a mechanical mixture through a filter to separate solid pieces from a liquid or gas

• True

• False

If one part of a mechanical mixture is insoluble, you can separate this part from the rest of the mixture using dissolving.

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• False

I will not make my teacher upset again!

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• False