Separating Solids

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Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 27/07/2014 10:18:06 PM
How do you separate 3 different solid substances from water?  In our daily lives, we may separate pasta from boiling water, or scoop leaves out of a pool, but what if we had more than one substance that we were trying to separate from water? 
Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 27/07/2014 10:22:19 PM

There are several different techniques that can be used to separate insoluble substance from the solvent they are in.  Research some of these methods and find examples of where this technique might be used:

1.   Gravity separation

2.   Sieving

3.  Filtration

4.  Magnetic separation

5.  Centrifuging

6.  Electrostatic separation 

Which technique would you use for :  sifting through soil, panning for gold, draining vegetables from a saucepan, designing a face mask, making a cup of tea, washing and spinning clothes, mining for metals, drying salad leaves.  

Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: stu at 9/07/2015 11:23:05 AM
Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 27/07/2014 10:37:44 PM

Explain why filtration cannot be used to separate sugar from water.

Two industries that use a variety of very accurate separation techniques are the wine industry and in the collection of blood products for medical purposes (the "blood bank").  Research how these industries rely on separation methods.

 

Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: stu at 9/07/2015 11:35:29 AM
Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: stu at 9/07/2015 11:40:46 AM
Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 27/07/2014 10:36:07 PM

Filter paper is a barrier that has many small (often microscopic) holes.  The holes are much smaller than the particles being separated, and so these particles get caught and remain in the filter paper.  Tea in a teabag is a common type of filter paper that allows water to move through the bag while keeping the tea leaves contained.  We also see filtering of air in vacuum cleaners, air conditions and central heating systems - larger particles are kept on the filter paper, or surface, while air is allowed to travel through. 

Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 27/07/2014 10:24:08 PM

Experiment: Separating Solids

This experiment will be done in class.  Students will be given sand, salt and iron fillings mixed together, and in their experiment groups, design a method to separate these solids from each other.