2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

● The names, formulae and charge of common polyatomic ions must be committed
to memory, e.g. NO​3​-​ is nitrate, SO​4​2-​ is sulfate, OH​-​ is hydroxide, etc.

Inquiry question​: How do the properties of substances help us to classify and separate them?

1.1.1 explore homogeneous mixtures and heterogeneous mixtures through practical

investigations:
– using separation techniques based on physical properties (ACSCH026)
– calculating percentage composition by weight of component elements and/or
compounds (ACSCH007)

Mixtures:

A ​mixture ​is a substance of variable composition, containing two or more elements or

compounds that are not chemically bonded together.

● Mixtures are impure substances.

● The purity of a substance can be determined from its melting point​, with pure
substances melting at a single temperature (or a very small temperature range) and
impure substances melting over a much larger range.
● Mixtures can be separated by physical means based on physical properties.
○ These are properties that can be observed without changing the composition
or structure of matter e.g. boiling point.
○ The properties of a mixture are variable and dependent on the substances
present in it.
● There are two major types of mixtures:

Type of mixture Definition Examples

Homogeneous Consistent proportions of constituent elements Homogenised milk,

or compounds throughout the mixture salt water, air, steel

Heterogeneous Inconsistencies in the proportions of Sand in water, cereal

constituent elements or compounds in milk, blood, mixed
throughout the mixture nuts

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

● Also familiarise yourselves with these words:

Term Definition Examples

Solution A homogenous mixture of two or more Salt water (salt =

substances, with a minor substance being solute, water =
uniformly distributed in a major substance. The solvent)
minor substance is one that is being dissolved
and is known as the ​solute​ while the major
substance is known as the ​solvent​.

Colloid A homogenous mixture where fine particles of Milk (dispersed fat

an insoluble substance are dispersed and molecules in water)
suspended in another substance

Suspension A heterogeneous mixture where there are large Sand in water (sand
solute particles that do not dissolve in the is suspended in
solvent. These solute particles are dispersed water)
temporarily then settle to the bottom

To be printed for students

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

Separating techniques

Sieving
● A sieve is an instrument with ​certain sized holes​, which ​prevents particles larger
than the size of the hole from passing through.
● Small particles pass through the sieve​ while​ large particles are trapped in it.
● It is most useful for separating solids of substantially different sizes.

Image can be printed, stock photo

Magnetism
● Ferromagnetic materials are strongly attracted by magnetic force.
● Notable ferromagnetic elements are iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and
gadolinium (Gd).
● Substances with magnetic properties can easily be separated from a mixture through
the use of a bar magnet of sufficient strength.

Image can be printed, stock photo

Evaporation to dryness
● This process occurs at temperatures that facilitate the evaporation of the solvent to
ensure that the solid is left behind to crystallise.
● This is often used for separating a solution where a solid solute is dissolved in a
liquid, e.g. salt in water.
● Evaporation to dryness is often performed in a large ​evaporating dish​ to maximise
the surface area of the solution.

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

Image can be printed, stock photo

Filtration

Students to reproduce this diagram

Source: ​http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pp2gnE45cNo/TG9qb4AicfI/AAAAAAAAABY/P3LoUrzrUA4/s400/filtratione.jpg

● Filtration is a process by which ​an insoluble solid ​may be​ separated from a liquid​.
● The solution is ​poured through a filter funnel that is lined with filter paper.
● Filter paper is a​ semi-permeable sheet with small pores​, varying from millimetres to
micrometres.
○ The choice of pore size is dependent on the quality of filtration required, with
higher grade filtration using smaller pore sizes.
● The substance that passes through the filter paper is known as the filtrate while the
solid substance trapped is the residue.

Dissolving and Evaporation to Dryness

● In a mixture of solids with ​differing solubility​, dissolving the mixture in water causes
one solid to dissolve (e.g. salt) and the other to remain suspended (e.g. sand).
● The suspended solid can be separated through the process of filtration, while the
dissolved solute can be extracted via evaporation to dryness.

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

Sedimentation and Decantation

● Large solid particles with ​high density ​often settle to the bottom when mixed with a
liquid.
● This process occurs over a period of time and is known as ​sedimentation.
● Above this sediment remains the liquid, which can be poured off the top without
disturbing the sediment, a process known as ​decantation.

Image can be printed, stock photo

Centrifugation
● The mixture is spun at high speeds to cause the ​denser particles to settle at the base
of the container.
● This is often done with ​colloids​, in which ​insoluble particles are usually too fine to
settle naturally.
● For example,​ blood ​can be centrifuged to​ separate red blood cells from plasma.

Image can be printed, stock photo

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

Distillation

Tutors to hand-draw please

Source: https://image.slidesharecdn.com/simpleandfractionaldistillation-161127082511/95/simple-and-fractional-distillation-17-638.jpg?cb=1480237604

● If the boiling points of two substances are sufficiently different (>20 degrees apart),
then ​distillation allows for the separation of them without the loss of any
substance.
● A temperature is chosen such that the ​substance with the lower boiling point is
separated out as the distillate​ while the ​other substance remains as the residue​.

Teaching point: Inform students why the condenser must be drawn such that water comes
in from the bottom and out from the top.

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

Fractional Distillation

Tutors to hand-draw please

Source: ​http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3jnoTQ6hYfA/Tra_x_QgQQI/AAAAAAAAAAc/2ks_TzxH5NE/s1600/fraction.jpg

● When liquids have similar boiling points, ​standard distillation will not facilitate
effective separation.
● Fractional distillation is thus used, ​whereby a fractionating column is attached to
the reaction vessel.
● This column consists of glass beads which disrupts the convection currents of the
vapours, allowing them to separate the further upwards they climb.
● Each bead provides a “theoretical plate” for which condensation can occur, resulting
in a more homogenous temperature at each “level”. This causes repeated
vaporisation and condensation.
● This results in a smoother temperature gradient up the entire column (with the
hotter vapours at the bottom and the cooler ones at the top), and hence allows the
separation of liquids with boiling points within approximately 20 degrees.

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

Separating Funnel

Tutors to hand-draw please

Source: ​http://ncerthelp.com/scienceimg/09-CH2/Concept/05.jpg

● The less dense liquid will settle on top of the denser liquid.
● After removing the lid, the stopcock is turned gradually to allow for the bottom
liquid to drain off.

Liquefaction and Fractional Distillation

● The gases are​ initially liquefied by cooling them below their boiling point​.
○ Often this is incredibly low, with air being cooled to below -196​o​C.
● The liquid is then separated by fractional distillation.
● In the case of air, ​nitrogen vapourises first​, followed by ​argon and oxygen
respectively.

Froth Flotation
● This process, usually used in the mining industry, is a method of separating certain
solids and liquids.
● In the extraction of copper ore, the ore is initially combined with other commercially
worthless waste substances known as gangue.
● Detergent is added to the ore/gangue mixture to reduce the surface tension, with air
then bubbled through. This causes the light copper ore grains to rise to the top; they
can then be removed.

Image can be printed, stock photo

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

Examples of Physical Separation

Mixtures can be separated through physical techniques based on ​differences in their
physical properties​. The choice of technique depends upon the composition of the mixture:

Note​ ​to tutor: ​Stress the importance of a difference in physical property in allowing
substances to be separated. Students should remember to write in their responses that ​X
and ​Y​ can be separated based on their ​difference​ in boiling point (for example).

Composition of Example Type of Technique Physical

Mixture mixture Property

Solids of Rocks and sand Heterogeneous Sieving Particle size

different sizes

Solids with Iron filings in Heterogeneous Use a bar magnet Magnetism

magnetic sand
properties

Solids of Sand and salt Heterogeneous Dissolving, Solubility

different filtration then
solubility evaporation

Solids and Sand and water Heterogeneous Filtration Particle size

liquids

Tea & tea leaves Heterogeneous Sedimentation Density

and decantation

Copper ore in Heterogeneous Froth flotation Density and

water surface tension

Blood Heterogeneous Centrifuging Density

Dissolved solids Salt and water Homogeneous Evaporation to Boiling point

in liquids dryness

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

Salt and water Homogeneous Distillation Boiling point

Miscible Liquids Water and Homogeneous Distillation Boiling point

ethylene glycol
(antifreeze)

Crude oil Homogeneous Fractional Boiling point

distillation

Immiscible Oil and water Heterogeneous Separating funnel Solubility and

liquids- do not density
form a
homogenous
mixture

Gases Air Homogeneous Liquefaction and Boiling point

Fractional
Distillation

Percentage Composition
The technique of gravimetric analysis is carried out to assess the percentage composition of
mixtures by mass.

Worked Example
Calculate the percentage of sand and salt in a mixture of sand, salt and water, given the
following values:

Quantity Mass (g)

Sand and Filter Paper 1.4

Filter Paper 0.75

Salt and Evaporating Basin 8.3

Evaporating Basin 7.2

Beaker of Sand, Salt and Water 15.0

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

Beaker 11.0

Mass of Mixture = 15-11

=4g

Mass of Sand = 1.4 -0.75

= 0.65 g

Mass of Salt = 8.3-7.2

= 1.1 g

% Sand = 0.65/4 x 100 = 16.25 % = 16 % (2 s.f. )

% Salt = 1.1/4 x 100 = 27.5 % = 28 % (2 s.f.)

Significant figures are very important for calculations and we must always give our final
answer to the lowest number of significant figures present in the question. This is to ensure
that our results have the same accuracy as the data we have been given.

1.1.2 investigate the nomenclature of inorganic substances using International Union of

Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) naming conventions

Naming Ionic Compounds

● Ionic compounds are formed due to the electrostatic attraction between a positive
ion (cation) and a negative ion (anion).
○ This electrostatic attraction is known as an ionic bond.
● The cation is usually a metal ion, which loses one or more electrons. For example Na​+
is a ​cation​, since the sodium atom has lost one electron.
● The anion is usually a non-metal ion, which has gained electrons. For example, Cl​-​ is
an ​anion​, since the chlorine atom has gained one electron.
● The ​electrons lost by the cation are transferred to the anion,​ as the two combine to
form an ionic compound.
● To name the anion, the ​suffix is dropped and replaced with -ide​.
○ For example, Cl​-​ is no longer named chlorine, but instead is chloride.
● There is no change required to name a cation.
○ For example, Na​+​ is called a sodium ion.
● An ionic compound is named by​ first using the name of the cation followed by the
anion.
○ For example, the ionic compound formed when Na​+​ and Cl​-​ combine is called
sodium chloride.

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

● To name ionic compounds where the metal ion is not from Groups I, II or III (i.e. the
‘columns’ of the periodic table), a Roman numeral is added after the cation to
indicate its charge in the ionic compound (or formally, oxidation state).
○ This is because transition metals can exhibit different charges when they are
part of different ionic compounds.
○ For example, Cu​2+​ can combine with O​2-​ to form CuO.
○ CuO is named copper(II) oxide, since the copper ion has a charge of +2.
● A term commonly used for an ionic compound is a ‘salt’.

Note to teachers: ​Ask the class what they think the name of Cu​2​O might be.

Questions

Name the following ionic compounds:

1. NaF
2. KCl
3. CaCl​2
4. FeO
5. Fe​2​O​3
6. PbO​2
7. PbO

Naming Covalent Compounds

● Covalent compounds are formed when two or more elements, usually non-metals,
share electron pairs in one or more covalent bonds.
● To name covalent compounds, you must first identify ​how many atoms of each
element are present.
○ For example, P​2​O​5​ has 2 phosphorus atoms and 5 oxygen atoms.
● Depending on the number of atoms present, a prefix is given to that element:

Number of atoms Prefix

1 mono

2 di

3 tri

4 tetra

5 penta

6 hexa

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

7 hepta

8 octa

9 nona

10 deca

○ With the ​element that appears second​, the ​suffix is dropped​ and like the
naming of anions, ​is replaced with -ide​.
● The final name of the compound incorporates both the prefix given to the number of
atoms and the -ide added to the second element.
○ For example, P​2​O​5​ would be named as diphosphorus pentoxide.
● The terminal ‘a’ in the prefixes ‘tetra’, ‘penta’, ‘hexa’, etc. is dropped if the second
element begins with an ‘o’​.
○ For example, we say pentoxide, not pentaoxide. However, we say
pentaiodide, not pentiodide.
● If the first element present in the compound has only one atom, the prefix mono- is
NOT used.
○ For example, CO​2​ is named as carbon dioxide NOT monocarbon dioxide.

Questions
Name the following covalent substances:
1. O​2
2. NO​2
3. SO​3
4. CO
5. Cl​2​O​7
6. N​2​H​4

Naming Polyatomic Ions

● Polyatomic ions are, as the name suggests, ions that consist of more than one atom,
covalently bonded together.
● There are a few common polyatomic ions that need to be remembered, which are
listed below:

Name of ion Chemical formula Charge

Nitrate NO​3​- -1

Hydroxide OH​- -1

Hydrogen carbonate/bicarbonate HCO​3​- -1

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2020 M1W1 Teacher’s Notes - Separation Techniques

Carbonate CO​3​2- -2

Sulfate SO​4​2- -2

Phosphate PO​4​3- -3

Ammonium NH​4​+ +1

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