Question

How carbon tetrachloride and water are separated?
(A) Filtration
(B) Distillation
(C) Separating funnel
(D) Chromatography

Answer 1

Hint: The options mentioned above are different methods of separation based on different properties of components of the mixture. Try to understand the type of mixture that is formed when carbon tetrachloride and water are mixed together. Now identify the type of separation that will be most suitable for this kind of mixture based on their difference in boiling points, ionic mobility etc.

Complete step by step solution:
We will first try to understand what happens when water and carbon tetrachloride are mixed together.
It is observed that the two liquids are immiscible i.e. they do not mix up. This leads to the formation of two different layers in the container.
Carbon tetrachloride is denser than water and thus will lie at the bottom of the container and water at the top.
We do not need any special kind of separation for this kind of mixture. We can use a separating funnel to obtain the pure compounds as they have a difference in density which is a significant distinguishing character.

Therefore, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: It is important to know that the above two liquids are immiscible because of the difference in polarity. Water, an inorganic solvent, is polar in nature. On the other hand, carbon tetrachloride is an organic non-polar solvent. As they have a difference in polarity, they do not mix thus forming two layers which can be easily separated.