Question

What types of material can we separate by using handpicking?

Answer 1

Hint: The materials which have different size and texture can be separate easily. Handpicking is the most common and the vital traditional method used in our day to day life.

Complete step by step solution:
All substances are not present in the purest form in nature thus, separation is vital. There are many separation techniques based on the properties of the substance which need to be separated. One of them is handpicking and is one of the easiest techniques practised.
Simply, those substances which can be picked by hands and thus are separated, are the ones which can be separated by handpicking.
The simplest method of separation leads to the handpicking method in which unwanted material which is of course in smaller quantities can be separated. The physical and visible properties of the unwanted substances need to be different from those of wanted substances i.e. colour, size and shape.
This technique is not only restricted to the chemistry of substances. In fact, in our day to day life too we use handpicking to separate things. For example, separation of grains from the mixture of grains and gravels.
Factually, the visible materials can be separated by handpicking method. As each method has its advantages and also disadvantages, this too has the same.
Advantages of handpicking-
-Does not need any machinery specially for separation.
-Takes minimum time when used for small quantities.
-Does not take any preparation for separation.
Disadvantages of handpicking-
-Not feasible for ample amounts of any substance.
-When substances are visibly different, this technique is hard for separation.
-All heterogenous mixtures cannot be separated by this technique.

Note: Many traditional methods are present for separation with limitations and advantages. No one will have only advantages. One can overrule this method but do remember that handpicking is the simplest and zero investment method.