CHAPTER - SEPARATION OF SUBSTANCES CLASS – VI

MIXTURES OF SOLIDS WITH LIQUIDS – can be of two types –

a) Solids which dissolve in liquids
b) Solids which do not dissolve in liquids

SEPARATING SOLIDS THAT DISSOLVE IN LIQUIDS – It is done by two

methods – 1. EVAPORATION
2. CRYSTALLISATION
1.Evaporation – The process of changing liquid into its vapour form on heating is known as
Evaporation. This method is generally used to obtain common salt from sea water.
{ Refer activity 2 on pg – 56 and draw its diagram }
2. Crystallisation is a process which separates a pure solid in the form of its crystals from a
saturated solution.
STEPS FOR CRYSTALLISATION –
1. Prepare a saturated solution of the solid to be separated.
2. Put the saturated solution into a china dish and heat it on a burner.
3. Stir the solution occasionally with a glass rod.
4. Stop heating the solution when small crystals appear on the glass rod.
5. Allow the solution to cool without disturbing it.
6. After some time crystals of pure solid will appear in the china dish.
( Draw a well labelled diagram given on Pg – 57)
This method is used for purification of common salt obtained from sea. It is also used
to obtain crystals of alum and blue vitrol.

SEPARATING SOLIDS THAT DO NOT DISSOLVE IN LIQUIDS –

For this following methods are used –
a) Sedimentation and Decantation
b) Loading
c) Filtration
d) Centrifugation
SEDIMENTATION & DECANTATION –
The process by which heavier insoluble materials in a mixture settle on their own , when left
undisturbed for some time is known as Sedimentation.
The process of pouring clear water above the sediment , into another beaker using a glass rod
without disturbing the sediment is known as Decantation.
These methods are used in water treatment plants that supply drinking water to our homes.
It is also used in washing pulses and rice in our kitchens.
[ DRAW A WELL LABELLED DIAGRAM OF SEDIMENTATION & DECANTATION
from Pg No. 58 of the textbook.]

LOADING –
The process of speeding up sedimentation by adding suitable chemicals so that the light
suspended particles become heavier and settle down is known as loading.
Alum ( phitkari ) is used for this phenomenon.
{ DRAW THE DIAGRAM FROM PG – 59)

FILTRATION –
The process of separating insoluble material from a liquid using filter paper or a fine
porous material ( filter) is known as filtration.
The clean water collected after filtration is known as filtrate.
The solid impurities collected on the top of the filter paper or filter is called as residue.
{ Draw the diagram of filtration from Pg -60}
Filters ( other than filter paper )commonly used are Muslin cloth , cotton wool , charcoal and
fine sand. The choice of filter depends upon the size of particles to be removed.
This method is used to separate tea leaves from tea.

CENTRIFUGATION –
The method used to separate the fine particles suspended in a liquid by rotating the mixture
at high speed is known as Centrifugation. In this method the lighter particles stay at the top
whereas the heavier particles tend to settle at the bottom of the container.
It is done with a machine called as Centrifuge. Eg. Separating cream from milk is done by
centrifugation. Even at homes butter is churned out from cream using a mixer . Butter being
lighter floats at the top. The traditional long handed wooden churner is still used in some
households to separate butter from cream.