Elements, Compounds and Mixtures — Science STD 7 — Question

1. Component of mixtures are separated by straining, filtering, sifting, picking, sorting, winnowing, combing with a magnet and sublimation.
2. In a mixture, the constituent substances do not lose their identity, they can be separated easily by physical methods.
a. Sedimentation: (i) It is a process of separating an insoluble solid from a liquid in which it is suspended, by allowing it to settle to the bottom of the container, e.g. Muddy water contains heavier particles like sand and soil, (ii) Leave this muddy water undisturbed for some time, (iii) The heavier soil and sand particles settle down and the clear upper water is poured out by decantation.

b. Filtration: It is used for separating insoluble solids from a liquid, e.g. mixture of chalk and water is poured through a filter paper in a funnel while the water gets

collected in the beaker below, chalk is retained in the filter paper.

c. Evaporation: It is used for recovering dissolved solid substances from solutions by evaporation e.g. sugar can be recovered from sugar-water.

d. Distillation: It is a process of heating a solution containing soluble solids to form vapours of the liquid and then cooling the vapours to get the liquid back. e.g. A mixture of common salt and water is taken in distillation flask and heated. Steam rises up and comes out into condenser.

e. Sublimation: It is a process in which some solids on heating are transformed directly to vapour without passing through the liquid state, (i) It is used to separate a mixture of solids. The vapours are cooled separately, (ii) Used to separate ammonium chloride, iodine, camphor and sulphur from any mixture.

f. Magnetic separation: A mixture with iron fillings as one of the components can be separated using magnet to attract the iron particles away from the mixture.