1. Separation of Substances (Pure Substances and Mixtures)
Sand - Mixture
Sand - Mixture
Water - Pure Substance
A pure Substance consists of only one kind of particles.
A mixture consists of two or more kind of particles.
2. Types of Mixture
A homogeneous mixture is that which has the same composition throughout, that is, its
components are uniformly distributed and cannot be distinguished from each other.
A heterogeneous mixture is that which does not have the same composition
throughout, that is, its components are not uniformly distributed and can be
distinguished from each other
3. Separating the components of Mixtures
a. Mixture of Solids with Solids
i. Hand Picking
The components of a solid-solid mixture can be separated by hand picking. For
e.g. separating pebbles from rice or dal, separating grass from mint leaves.
4. ii. Threshing
This method is generally used by the farmers to separate the grains from the stalks after harvesting.
The dried stalks are beaten or threshed to separate the grains. However, in large farms threshing is
done by using threshing machines.
5. iii. Winnowing
Winnowing
In this method, the mixture is allowed to fall from a height. The lighten components get separated from
the heavier ones because of wind or air blow. This method is used to separate lighter husk from heavier
Grains like wheat.
6. iv. Sieving
This method is used to separate the components that are of different sizes. For sieving, a
sieve is used.
Sieve is a wire mesh fixed tightly in a frame.
7. v. Magnetic Separation
In this magnetic substances (like iron get attracted by the magnet. For e.g.- when a
magnet is brought near iron pins, all pins get clinged to it.
8. vi. Sublimation
The process in which
a solid changes
directly into gaseous
state on heating is
called sublimation.
9. b. Mixture of solids with liquids
i. Evaporation
Evaporation is a process in which a liquid changes
into gaseous form on heating is called evaporation.
11. 2. Separating solids that do not dissolve in liquids
i. Sedimentation and Decantation
Sedimentation is the process by which the insoluble, heavy solid particles settle down
their own in a solution. In order to separate the two, the liquid has to be gently poured
into another container without disturbing the sediments. This process of obtaining clear
liquid by pouring it into another container without disturbing the sediments is called
decantation.
12. ii. Loading
Loading is a process which speeds up the sedimentation. In fact, loading is a
faster process as
compared to sedimentation.
13. iii. Filtration
Filtration is a process of separating insoluble solids (like mud, tea leaves etc.) from a
liquid using fine pores of the filter.