Question

Is it possible to separate sugar mixed with wheat flour? If yes, how will you do it?

Answer 1

Hint:A mixture consists of molecules of two or more substances which can be elements, compounds, or both of them. They can be in any proportions such that they do not combine chemically to form a new substance. A mixture can be of two types – homogeneous where the constituents are mixed uniformly throughout and heterogeneous where the constituents are not mixed uniformly throughout.

Step-by-step solution:
Step 1
There can be different types of mixtures like:
Solid-solid mixture. Example sand and pebbles, sugar and wheat flour, etc.
Solid-liquid mixture. Example sugar solution, salt solution, etc.
Liquid-liquid mixture. Example water mixed with lemon juice, water mixed with alcohol, etc.

Step 2
A mixture can be separated for the following purpose:
To remove the harmful or the undesirable component from the mixture.
To obtain a useful substance.
To get the pure sample of a substance.
Step 3
Different methods of separation are used to get the individual component of the mixture. The choice of the method of separating the constituents of the mixture depends on the nature of the mixture and the properties of the ingredients present in it.
Step 4
The solid-solid mixtures can be separated by the following processes:
Handpicking- where bigger substances can be handpicked and separated. Like stones are separated from the rice by the method of handpicking.
Sieving – where the larger particles are separated by passing the mixture through a strainer. Like sugar mixed with wheat flour when passed through a strainer, the sugar particles being larger remains back in the sieve or the strainer whereas the wheat flour passes through it.
Winnowing – the lighter particles can be separated as this process creates a vibration in which the lighter particles get separated. For example, the presence of dust in the rice can be separated by this method.
Magnetic separation- If the mixture has a magnetic material like iron, it can be separated by using a magnet.

Hence, sugar mixed with wheat flour can be separated by the process of sieving.

Note:The mixture containing a sublimable substance can be separated by the means of sublimation.As for example-When dry ice gets exposed to air, dry ice directly changes its phase from solid-state to gaseous state which is visible as fog.