Biology Selected Topics

Practice 1: Separating mixtures.

Aim: To use different techniques or methods for separating mixtures.
Materials:
A mixture of sand and salt
Water
Funnel
Filter paper
Evaporating dish
Bunsen burner or hot plate
Plastic droppers
Test tubes
Stirring rods

Methods:
To separate the mixture of salt and sand, we will use different methods and compare
them:

Hand Separation:
1. Inspect the mixture for any visibly distinct components.
2. Use your hands or tools to separate the components based on their physical
properties.

Using Solubility Differences:

1. Add the mixture of sand and salt to water in a test tube.
2. Stir to dissolve the salt in water, leaving behind the sand.
3. Pour the mixture through a funnel and filter paper to collect the sand.

Evaporation:
1. Pour the salt solution collected from filtration into an evaporating dish.
2. Place the evaporating dish on a hot plate or Bunsen burner.
3. Heat the solution gently until all the water evaporates, leaving behind the salt
crystals.

Laboratory report questions:

Answer the following questions at the end of your lab report.

• What is the fundamental principle behind the process of filtration? How does
it work to separate components in a mixture?
• Explain the key difference between a solute and a solvent in the context of
the evaporation method. How does this difference contribute to the separation
process?
• How does the concept of separating mixtures relate to environmental
sustainability? Provide an example of how separation techniques are used in
waste management or recycling processes.