Our Objective

To separate the components of a mixture using the following techniques:

 Separating funnel
 Chromatography

 Centrifugation

 Simple distillation

 Fractional distillation

The Theory

How is a homogeneous mixture different from a heterogeneous mixture?

Most materials in our surroundings are mixtures of two or more components. Mixtures are
either homogeneous or heterogeneous. Homogeneous mixtures are uniform in composition,
but heterogeneous mixtures are not uniform in composition.

Air is a homogeneous mixture and oil in water is a heterogeneous mixture. Homogeneous and
heterogeneous mixtures can be separated into their components by several physical methods. The
choice of separation techniques is based on the type of mixture and difference in the chemical
properties of the constituents of a mixture.

What are types of separation techniques?

Various types of separation processes are:

 Crystallization
 Filtration

 Decantation

 Sublimation

 Evaporation

 Simple distillation

 Fractional distillation

 Chromatography

 Centrifugation

 Separating funnel
  Magnetic separation

 Precipitation

Let’s discuss some of the separation techniques

Using a separating funnel:

A separating funnel is used for the separation of components of a mixture between two
immiscible liquid phases. One phase is the aqueous phase and the other phase is an organic
solvent. This separation is based on the differences in the densities of the liquids. The liquid having
more density forms the lower layer and the liquid having less density forms the upper layer.

Applications:

 To separate a mixture of oil and water.

 To separate a mixture of kerosene oil and water.

Chromatography:

Chromatography is a separation technique used to separate the different components in a

liquid mixture. It was introduced by a Russian Scientist Michael Tswett. Chromatography involves
the sample being dissolved in a particular solvent called mobile phase. The mobile phase may
be a gas or liquid. The mobile phase is then passed through another phase called stationary phase.
The stationary phase may be a solid packed in a glass plate or a piece of chromatography paper.

The various components of the mixture travel at different speeds, causing them to separate. There
are different types of chromatographic techniques such as column chromatography, TLC, paper
chromatography, and gas chromatography.

Paper chromatography is one of the important chromatographic methods. Paper chromatography

uses paper as the stationary phase and a liquid solvent as the mobile phase. In paper
chromatography, the sample is placed on a spot on the paper and the paper is carefully dipped into
a solvent. The solvent rises up the paper due to capillary action and the components of the mixture
rise up at different rates and thus are separated from one another.
Applications:

 To separate colors in a dye.

 To separate pigments from natural colors.

 To separate drugs from blood.

Centrifugation:

Sometimes the solid particles in a liquid are very small

and can pass through a filter paper. For such particles,
the filtration technique cannot be used for separation.
Such mixtures are separated by centrifugation.
So, centrifugation is the process of separation of
insoluble materials from a liquid where normal
filtration does not work well. The centrifugation is
based on the size, shape, and density of the particles,
viscosity of the medium, and the speed of rotation. The
principle is that the denser particles are forced to the
bottom and the lighter particles stay at the top when spun
rapidly.

The apparatus used for centrifugation is called a

centrifuge. The centrifuge consists of a centrifuge tube holder called rotor. The rotor holds balanced
centrifugal tubes of equal amounts of the solid-liquid mixture. On rapid rotation of the rotor, the
centrifuge tubes rotate horizontally and due to the centrifugal force, the denser insoluble particles
separate from the liquid. When the rotation stops, the solid particles end up at the bottom of the
centrifuge tube with liquid at the top.

Applications:

 Used in diagnostic laboratories for blood and urine tests.

 Used in dairies and home to separate butter from cream.

 Used in washing machines to squeeze water from wet clothes.

Simple distillation:
Simple distillation is a method used for the separation of components of a mixture containing
two miscible liquids that boil without decomposition and have sufficient difference in their
boiling points.

The distillation process involves heating a liquid to its boiling points, and transferring the vapors into
the cold portion of the apparatus, then condensing the vapors and collecting the condensed liquid in
a container. In this process, when the temperature of a liquid rises, the vapor pressure of the liquid
increases. When the vapor pressure of the liquid and the atmospheric pressure reach the same
level, the liquid passes into its vapor state. The vapors pass over the heated portion of the apparatus
until they come into contact with the cold surface of the water-cooled condenser. When the vapor
cools, it condenses and passes down the condenser and is collected into a receiver through the
vacuum adapter.

Applications:

 Separation of acetone and water.

 Distillation of alcohol.

Fractional distillation: Fractional distillation is used for the separation of a mixture of two or
more miscible liquids for which the difference in boiling points is less than 25K. The
apparatus for fractional distillation is similar to that of simple distillation, except that a fractionating
column is fitted in between the distillation flask and the condenser.

A simple fractionating column is a tube packed with glass beads. The beads provide surface for the
vapors to cool and condense repeatedly. When vapors of a mixture are passed through the
fractionating column, because of the repeated condensation and evaporation, the vapors of the
liquid with the lower boiling point first pass out of the fractionating column, condense and are
collected in the receiver flask. The other liquid, with a slightly higher boiling point, can be collected in
similar fashion in another receiver flask.

Applications:

 Separation of different fractions from petroleum products.

 Separation of a mixture of methanol and ethanol.

Learning outcomes

1. Student understands the following terms: solvent extraction, chromatography, RF ,

centrifugation, simple distillation, fractional distillation, etc.
2. Student acquires skills to perform experiments using the following techniques in the
chemistry lab:
  Solvent extraction using separating funnel

 Paper Chromatography

 Centrifuge machine

 Simple distillation & fractional distillation

3. Student can identify the components in the mixture based on the knowledge of Rf value,
boiling point, density, etc.

4. Student is able to select & design the above techniques based on the chemical and
physical properties of the components in the mixture.

5. Students acquire the skill to arrange the requirements for each technique through the
animations, simulators and videos.

6. Students will be able to select and perform suitable separation techniques based on the
available information about the nature of the components in the mixture.
Separating Mixtures

Mixtures come in many forms and phases. Most of them can be separated, and the kind
of separation method depends on the kind of mixture it is. Below are some common
separation methods:

Paper Chromatography
This method is often used in the food industry. It is used to identify chemicals (coloring
agents) in foods or inks. For example, if a scientist wants to know how many
substances are in a particular blob of ink, paper chromatography can be used. CLICK
HERE to see how it works.

Filtration
This is a more common method of separating an insoluble solid from a liquid. An
example of such a mixture is sand and water. Filtration is used in water treatment
plants, where water from rivers is filtered to remove solid particles. CLICK HERE to see
how it works.

Evaporation
Evaporation is great for separating a mixture (solution) of a soluble solid and a solvent.
The process involves heating the solution until the solvent evaporates (turns into gas)
leaving behind the solid residue.
CLICK HERE to see an illustration of how it works.

Simple distillation
This method is best for separating a liquid from a solution. In a way, the concept is
similar to evaporation, but in this case, the vapor is collected by condensation. For
example, if you want to separate water from a salt solution, simple distillation would be
great for this. CLICK HERE to see how it works.

Fractional distillation
Similar to simple distillation, fractional distillation is best for separating a solution of
two miscible liquids. (Miscible liquids are liquids that dissolve in each other). The
Fractional method takes advantage of the different boiling points of the two
liquids. CLICK HERE to see how it works.

Magnetism
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. CLICK
HERE to see how it works.
 Separating funnel
In this technique, two liquids that do not dissolve very well in each other (immiscible
liquids) can be separated by taking advantage of their unequal density. A mixture of oil
and water, for example, can be separated by this technique. CLICK HERE to see how it
works.

Separation of mixtures by paper chromatography

This method is often used in the food industry. It is used to identify chemicals (coloring
agents)
in foods or inks. For example, if a scientist wants to know how many substances are in
a
particular blob of ink, paper chromatography can be used.

Below is an illustration of using chromatography to separate and identify the different

chemicals in an ink (mixture)

A blob of ink is smeared on a special paper called filter paper. The paper is placed in a
trough
of solvent. The solvent used depends on the chemicals in the ink blob. As the paper
gets
soaked upwards, it attracts the various chemicals in the ink blob. Because different
chemicals
have different rates of attractions to the solvent, the chemicals will travel upwards in
different
amounts. Sometimes, a chemical may not react at all. If a different solvent is used, all
the
various chemicals may travel at a completely different rate.
Filtration separation method

This is a more common method of separating an insoluble solid from a liquid. An

example
of such a mixture is sand and water. Filtration is used in water treatment plants, where
water from the river is filtered to remove solid particles.

Here is a basic lab setup for filtration:

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. In filtration, the liquid part collected is called the filtrate and the solid bit
that
remained on the filter paper is called the residue.

Evaporation separation method

Evaporation is the process by which water (and other liquids) changes from a liquid
state to a vapor or gas state.

Evaporation is great for separating a mixture (solution) of a soluble solid and a solvent.
The process involves heating the solution until the solvent evaporates (turns into gas)
leaving behind the solid residue.

Here is a simple example involving a mixture of salt and water.

To get the salt back from the salt water, the solution is heated to boiling point. As it
boils,
the water escapes as vapor (gas). After some time, all the water evaporates, leaving a
layer
of salt at the bottom of the beaker.

Simple distillation
This method is best for separating a liquid from a solution. In a way, the concept is
similar
to evaporation, but in this case, the vapor is collected by condensation. For example,
if
you want to separate water from a salt solution, simple distillation would be great for
this.

For example: to separate pure water from a salt solution, it works like this:

A beaker of the salt solution is heated to the boiling point of the liquid. As it boils, the
liquid
turns into vapuor (gas). The vapor is directed through tubes (condenser) connected to
another
beaker. As the vapour goes through the tube, it is cooled down by running cold water
around
the tubes. This forces the temperature of the vapor to fall, causing the gas to turn into
liquid
again (condensation). The liquid is pure at this point, as it is free from salt.
The process continues until all the liquid in the solution turns into vapour, leaving the
salt
residue. The distilled liquid is called a ‘Distillate’

Fractional distillation

Similar to simple distillation, fractional distillation is best for separating a solution of

two
miscible liquids. (Miscible liquids are liquids that dissolve in each other).
The Fractional method takes advantage of the different boiling points of the two
liquids.

Example: To separate ethanol from a solution of water and ethanol, it would work like
this:

In a mixture of two miscible liquids (like water and ethanol) one liquid will have a
lower
boiling point (ethanol). In a similar set-up like a simple distillation, the heat is applied
to
the solution to raise its temperature to the boiling point of the ethanol. This will turn
the
ethanol in the mixture into gas. Unlike in the simple distillation set-up, there is
a fraction
column between the boiling beaker and the condensing unit. This column is made up
of
layers of glass or beads. The column helps the rising gas to slowly condense and re-
evaporate
several times, before it is collected into the beaker. In the end, the water is separated
from
the ethanol. Fractional distillation takes a bit more time than the simple distillation.

Magnetism

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.

It works like this:

Let us take a mixture of sand and iron filing for example.

To separate this, spread out the mixture on a flat surface. Run a magnet bar over the
surface.
You will notice that the magnetic elements (iron filings) will be attracted to the magnet
over it.
After a number of runs, all the sand will be free from any iron filing.

Separating funnel
In this technique, two liquids that do not dissolve very well in each other (immiscible
liquids)
can be separated with the concept of unequal density. A mixture of oil and water, for
example, can be separated by this technique.

It works like this:

The two liquids in the mixture have different densities, making the heavier liquid settle
at the
base of the container. In this setup, a funnel with a tap at the spout is placed inside a
beaker.
The mixture is poured into the funnel and allowed to settle. Soon, the oil, which is
heavier,
settles at the base, with the water on top of it. The tap is opened to allow the oil to
pass,
and closed as soon as the water reached the spout.