Mixtures and Ways of Separating Mixtures
In chemistry, the material is made by the physical combination between two similar or different compounds that are mixed together in the form of a solution, colloids, and suspensions. The identities of such compounds are also retained. This is known as a mixture. But, they do not react chemically and are not certainly in a definite ratio. The various components from which the mixture is formed have their own physical properties. There are two types of a mixture such as homogeneous and heterogeneous.
For example: If a mixture is made by mixing water and sugar then the mixture maintains the properties of both elements.
Types of Mixtures
Homogeneous Mixtures:- These are the types of mixture in which two or more compounds mixed are distributed uniformly throughout the mixture. For example, Air and saline solution
Heterogeneous Mixtures:- These are the type of mixture in which two or more compounds are mixed unevenly or unequally. For example Oil in water and Sand in water.
Methods of Separation of Mixtures
The process or method of separation of different components of a mixture by the physical method is known as the separation of mixtures.
The choice of techniques of separating mixture depends upon mixture type and difference in the chemical properties of the components of the mixture.
Different Ways of Separating Mixtures
Some of the common techniques used in separating mixtures are as follow:
Separating funnel
Chromatography
Evaporation
Simple distillation
Fractional distillation
Centrifugation
Separating Funnel
A separating funnel is mostly used to segregate or separate the mixture's components between two immiscible liquid phases. The mainly aqueous phase and organic solvents are the two immiscible liquid phases found in this method respectively. The mechanism of separation depends upon the unequal density of the liquids. The liquid particles with more density are responsible for forming the lower layer and the upper layer is formed by the liquid having lesser density. This technique is used to separate oil and water.
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Chromatography
The separation technique is used to separate the mixture components by passing them in the suspension or solution or as a vapor over a medium in which the mixture constitutes or components move at different rates. This technique is dependent on the various properties of compounds present in two phases i.e mobile and stationary phases.
The technique involves dissolving the sample in a specific solvent known as a mobile phase which may be liquid or gas. This specific solvent is then passed over another phase present called a stationary phase. The separation is based upon different speeds at which different components of a mixture travels.
Types of Chromatography
Paper Chromatography
Thin layer Chromatography (TLC)
Column Chromatography
Gas Chromatography
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Evaporation
Evaporation is a method used to separate either a homogeneous mixture, usually two dissolved salts, or a solution consisting of a soluble solid and a solvent. The process typically involves heating the solution until the organic solvent evaporates and no liquid remains behind as it turns into a gas and leaves behind the solid components.
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Simple Distillation
An effective method used to separate a mixture that consists of two or more, pure or miscible liquids is known as distillation. It is a purification process in which the components of the liquid mixture are first vaporized and then condensed followed by isolation. In simple distillation, when the mixture is heated then the most volatile component vaporizes first at a lower temperature. The vapor moves through a cooled tube (condenser) and is collected after it gets condensed into a liquid state.
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Fractional Distillation
Fraction distillation is a technique used to separate a mixture that comprises two miscible liquids. The process implicates the heating of a liquid up to its boiling point. But, the difference in the boiling points of both the liquids should be less than 25K.
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Centrifugation
Centrifugation is a technique used for the separation of tiny solid particles from a liquid that can easily pass through a filter paper. Centrifugation is used for carrying out the separation of these insoluble particles where normal filtration fails to work well. The centrifugation depends upon the viscosity of the medium, speed of rotation, shape, size, and density of the particle. This technique is based on the principle that lighter particles stay at the top and heavier or denser particles are forced to move at the bottom when spun rapidly. The apparatus used for the centrifugation technique is called a centrifuge. The centrifuge mainly includes a centrifuge tube holder called a rotary. It holds balanced centrifuge tubes that contain an equal amount of solid-liquid mixtures.
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FAQs on Separation of Mixtures
1. Why the Separation of Mixture is Important and Write Some of its Applications?
Separation of the mixture is important so that the desired composition can be obtained from the mixture. It also helps in a better understanding of the components and how they are contributing to the chemical and physical properties of the resulting mixture.
Applications of methods of separation of the mixture are:
Used in the separation of drugs from the blood.
Used in Diagnostic Laboratories.
Distillation of alcohol.
Used in the separation of pigments from natural color.
Used in various fraction separation from petroleum products.
2. Explain Some Common Ways of Separating Mixtures?
Filtration: The most common method used for the separation of pure components of a mixture containing different size particles include some that are large enough to be captured with the porous material.
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Sedimentation: It is the method of separating a mixture containing liquid in which heavier impurities in the form of solid are present to settle down in the bottom of the container containing the mixture.
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Magnetic Separation: If one of the components in the mixture which needs to be separated has some magnetic properties then this method is quite applicable as strong magnets are used to separate the magnetic components.
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3. What is the Purpose behind the Separation of Mixtures?
Mixtures are separated for the following purposes :
1) Removing Unwanted Particles -
The dishes and food preparation have various types of spices and ingredients in them. Some of these edibles are not suitable in exceptional cases. For example - in a portion of spicy food, someone who is allergic to red spice removes it from the food, so he/she can consume the food easily.
In the case of rice and other cereals and crops, unwanted particles are removed to make it fit for use and increase its quality.
The nostrils in the nose help to separate the dust and dirt particles from the air.
Filtration helps in making the water drinkable. When water is obtained from water bodies, it contains large amounts of mud and pollutants which are separated to save the health of consumers.
2) For obtaining Important Substances
Butter is obtained from milk by the process of separation. This process gives buttermilk and butter when separated from the mixture. These food items are widely used for consumption.
The oxygen cylinders contain oxygen which is packed in bottles or cylinders through the process of separation. Oxygen plants help in the separation of this oxygen from the other gasses of the environment. These oxygen cylinders help in the treatment of patients who have difficulty breathing on their own.
Refining of oil is an example of separation where harmful ingredients and cholesterol etc are separated from the oil. This makes the oil healthier to consume and easily digestible.
Also, crude oil is a mixture of various oils like petrol, diesel, kerosene, etc. Hence, these oils are extracted and used in running vehicles and machines throughout the world.
3) Obtaining Some Pure Substances
Obtaining pure water from the seawater is an example of this type of separation. Here, salt and other unwanted particles are separated from the water to make it pure.
Various substances present in the environment are extracted in impure form during the primary stage but going through separation turns them into pure and efficient.
4. Explain the Separation of the Mixture having
(i) Camphor and Salt
(ii) Bran and Wheat Flour
(iii) Salt and sand
(i) camphor and salt
For this separation - china dish, funnel, cotton plug, bunsen burner, container, etc are required.
In this, camphor is crushed and collected in a china dish.
Over the china dish, keep the inverted funnel.
On the stem of the funnel, place a cotton plug and start heating the china dish slowly on the bunsen burner.
The camphor in contact with heat will start to convert to a vapor state. This vapor is collected at the top of the container because of the cotton placed on top.
This results in the formation of crystals in camphor due to condensation.
(ii) Bran and wheat -
Through the process of sieving, bran and wheat are separated.
This is commonly done by farmers and wheat factories to produce the clear quality of wheat.
In sieving, the particles are separated based on size. Therefore, the small bran particles are separated from bigger wheat particles.
The use of sieve plates makes it easy to separate the bran particles and wheat particles.
(iii) Salt and sand
The density of salt and sand are different from each other. Sad is heavier than salt and has 2.65 g/cm 3 density.
Therefore, by shaking the mixture of salt and sand, separation can be done.
In this process, the salt will separate up and the sand being heavier will deposit down forming the layer.
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5. Define the following :
(i) Centrifugation
(ii) Sedimentation
(i) Centrifugation -
It is the mechanical process where the centrifugal force is used to separate a solution's particle based on the size, shape, density, medium viscosity of a material.
The denser substance moves away from the axis of the centrifuge and the less dense substance moves towards the axis.
The angular velocity is used to determine the rate of centrifugation in terms of revolutions per minute (RPM).
Sewage sludges are processed through centrifugation before disposing of. It is also used in biochemistry, cell, and molecular biology.
The subcategories of centrifugation are
Microcentrifuges
Low-speed centrifuges
High-speed centrifuges
Ultracentrifugation
Analytical ultracentrifugation
Preparative ultracentrifugation.
(ii) Sedimentation -
It is a water treatment process that uses a gravitational phenomenon to remove suspended solids from water.
In the environment, sedimentation results in the deposition of rocks.
It is widely related to geology and also helps in understanding rocks.
The thickness of the sediment layer accumulated in unit time is termed the rate of sedimentation.