SEPARATION TECHNIQUES

1. Simple distillation
○ Used to obtain a pure liquid from a solution
○ Impure liquid → pure vapor → pure liquid

○ The mixture to be separated is heated. The pure liquid which is to be obtained evaporates and
changes to a gas/vapour. The vapour then enters the condenser where the flow of cool water
opposite to the direction of the movement of the vapour causes it to condense and change into a
liquid which is then collected.

2. Fractional distillation
○ Used to separate a mixture into its component parts, or fractions, by their boiling points

○ In the fractionating column, as heat is added at the base, a temperature gradient is created in the column → It is
coolest at the top and hottest at the bottom. As the mixed vapour ascends the temperature gradient causes the
vapour of the components with the higher boiling point to condense on the cooler beads and go back into
the solution. The vapor of the component with the lower boiling point does not condense and
continues on to the condenser.

○ The different components are then collected separately.

3. Separating Funnel
 ○ Used to separate immiscible liquids

○ The two immiscible liquids to be separated are added to the funnel and allowed to settle so that they
form separate layers. The tap of the funnel is then opened, allowing the bottom liquid to flow out and
be collected.

4. Sublimation
○ Used to separate a solid/solid mixture where one of the solids sublimes
○ Heat solid mixture → One solid sublimes → Vapour collected and cooled

5. Filtration
○ Used to separate solid/solid mixture where one solid is soluble or to separate a solid/liquid mixture.

○ The substance left in the filter paper is the residue; the substance filtered into the flask is the filtrate

6. Evaporation/Crystallization
○ Used to separate a solution of a solid dissolved in a liquid and only allows the solid to be collected

○ During evaporation, the solution is boiled, allowing the liquid to vaporize into the air. The solute is then
left behind in the container. Evaporation is NOT suitable if the solid to be collected is decomposed by
heat.

○ During crystallization, the solution is left in a container at room temperature for the liquid to vaporize
into the air. Crystallization is used when obtaining hydrous substances.

Note: Hydrous crystals contain water of crystallization; Anhydrous crystals do not

7. Paper Chromatography
○ Used to separate, purify, or identify colored chemicals or substances

○ In paper chromatography:
■ Mixture is placed on the baseline of a strip of chromatography paper using a fine capillary
tube and the spot is allowed to dry
■ Strip is suspended in a container of solvent where the solvent MUST NOT be above or
touching the baseline
■ The solvent will move up the paper via capillary action taking the different components along
with it at different rates based on solubility and affinity

○ Each component can be recognized by a known value called the Retention Factor (Rf)

Rf = Distance travelled by component

Distance travelled by mobile phase

Note: The Rf has no units (they cancel out)

The Rf value can never be greater than 1

○ Key Terms:
■ Baseline - A line drawn IN PENCIL approximately 1 inch from the bottom of the paper.
Mixtures are placed on this line

■ Mobile Phase - Carries components along the stationary phase (Solvent)

■ Stationary Phase - Does not move

■ Solvent Front - Point where solvent stops moving after all components have been deposited
on paper. The solvent from is always marked on the paper IN PENCIL immediately at the end
of the experiment.

○ Solubility & Affinity

■ Solubility - A component’s solubility is determined by how far it travels in the mobile phase i.e.
how high up the paper the component is seen. The larger the Rf, the more soluble the
component in that solvent.

■ Affinity is a measure of the degree to which a substance tends to combine with another. If the
component travels far up on the paper then it is said to have a higher affinity for the mobile
phase than the stationary phase as it stayed in the solvent and moved up with it for a long
time; if it sticks to the paper close to the baseline then it has a low affinity for the mobile phase
 and a high affinity for the stationary phase as it preferred to deposit on the paper instead of
moving with the solvent.

High up on paper = Large Rf = High solubility = High affinity for mobile phase = Low affinity for
stationary phase

Low down on paper = Small Rf = Low solubility = Low affinity for mobile phase = High affinity
for stationary phase