DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL RUBYPARK, KOLKATA

SESSION: 2022-23
SUBJECT – SCIENCE (CHEMISTRY)
CLASS – 6
CHAPTER – 3; SEPARATION OF MIXTURES

SEPARATION OF SUBSTANCES
Any substance which occupies space and has mass is called matter. Matter is made up of one or more than one type
of particle. The type of particles present in a form of matter helps to determine whether it is pure or impure matter.
Matter

Pure substances Impure substances or Mixtures

Elements Compounds Homogeneous Heterogeneous

PURE FORM OF MATTER: A substance which is made up of only one kind of particles is called a pure
substance.
Properties of pure substance:
• It has definite chemical composition and distinct properties different from those of another pure substance.
• It cannot be separated into components by physical separation methods.
For example, gold, silver, hydrogen, ammonia, carbon dioxide, water.

IMPURE FORM OF MATTER: Most of the substances we find in nature are impure substances. A substance made
up of two or more substances mixed together in any ratio is called a mixture.
Properties of mixture:
• The components of a mixture are mixed in any ratio.
• The components can be separated by simple physical methods.
TYPES OF MIXTURES:
Heterogeneous mixture: The mixture in which the component particles are visible distinctly as they do not mix
completely is called a heterogeneous mixture. Eg. mixture of soil and water, mixture of salt and pepper.
Homogeneous mixture: The mixture in which the component particles are not visible as they mix completely is
called a homogeneous mixture. Eg. A solution of salt and water, fizzy drink, air.

Mixtures found in nature:

I. Air is a mixture of several gases like oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapour.
II. Milk is a mixture of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and water.
III. Sea water is a mixture of water and salts dissolved in it.

Mixtures we prepare:
Milkshake, ice cream, fruit salad, coffee, fresh lime, cement are some mixtures that are prepared by us.

NEED FOR SEPARATION:

Separation of mixtures into their constituents is necessary for the following reasons:
• To separate two or more different but useful components.
• To remove undesirable and useless components.
• To remove impurities or harmful components.
• To get pure substances.

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Q:1) Write the names of the types of mixtures. Give an example of each.
Q:2) Make a table of three natural and prepared mixtures and write the names of their components.
Q:3) If a substance contains two or more kinds of molecules, what is it called?

METHODS OF SEPARATION:
Depending on the properties of components in a mixture, different methods can be adopted to separate them.

Types of Mixtures

Solid in solid Solid in liquid Liquid in liquid

Separation processes Soluble Insoluble Miscible liquids Immiscible

liquids
1. Hand-picking
2. Threshing Separation process Separation process Separation process Separation
process 3.Winnowing
4. Sieving
1.Evaporation 1. Sedimentation distillation 1. Decantation
and decantation 2. Separating funnel
2. Filtration \
3. Loading
4. Churning

METHOD OF TYPE OF MIXTURE PROPERTIES OF THE FIGURE

SEPARATION MIXTURE

• Easily visible to
the naked eye
1. HANDPICKING Solid in solid • different in colour
• present in small
quantities

Solid in solid
(Separation of grains from
2. THRESHING stalks) by beating or with
the help of bullocks or
machines)
• Grains are separated
from stalks by
beating manually or
with the help of
bullocks or machines

Solid in solid • The components

(Separation of lighter should differ in
3. WINNOWING solids from the heavier masses.
ones) • Wind helps in
winnowing
• The mixture is
dropped from a
height, the lighter
component blows
away easily and forms
2

Solid in solid
(Separation of smaller
4. SIEVING components from larger
one)
5. MAGNETIC Solid in solid
SEPARATION (Separation of magnetic
substance from a non-
magnetic substance)
Solid in solid
(Separation of a
6. SUBLIMATION sublimable solid from a
non-sublimable one)
7.EVAPORATION Solid in liquid
(Separation of soluble
solid from the solvent)
8. SEDIMENTATION Solid in liquid
AND DECANTATION (Separation of insoluble
solid from the liquid)
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a heap at a distance.
The heavier one fall
and makes a heap.
• The components
should differ in size
• A sieve is a kind of
strainer, which allows
small particles to pass
through the holes and
larger particles
remain behind.
• The magnetic
component is
separated from the
non-magnetic
component with the
help of a magnet
• The sublimable solids
like camphor,
naphthalene,
ammonium chloride,
iodine is present as
one of the
components of a
mixture then by
heating, the
sublimable solid gets
separated, leaving
behind the other
component.
• The solid should get
dissolved in the liquid
• On heating, the liquid
component evaporates
leaving behind the
solid.
• The solid component
must be insoluble in
the liquid
• The solid should be
heavier than the
liquid, so that the
heavier particles settle
down.
• Loading is a method
of speeding up
sedimentation. Alum
is used to load
suspended clay
particles in water.

9. FILTRATION Solid in liquid
( Separation of insoluble
solid from the liquid)
Solid in liquid
10. CHURNING (Separation of lighter
components of a mixture
from heavier ones by
rotating at a high speed)
Solid in liquid
10. DISTILLATION ( Separation of both the
solute and the solvent
from a solution)
Liquid in liquid
11. SEPARATING (Separation of immiscible
FUNNEL liquids)
12. FRACTIONAL
DISTILLATION Liquid in liquid
(Separation of miscible
liquids)
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The solid component
must be insoluble in
the liquid
• The solid component
being very fine and
light, doesn’t settle
down.
• The filter paper has
very fine pores which
allow the water to
flow through, but not
the solid particles.
• The lighter solid
component gets
separated from the
heavier liquid on
rotation.
• The solid must be
soluble in the liquid
• The solution is heated
to evaporate the
liquid.
• The vapour then
condenses on cooling.
• The solid gets
separated and the pure
liquid is obtained
• The liquids must be
immiscible.
• The lighter one
remains at the top and
the heavier one
remains at the bottom.
• On opening the
stopper, the heavier
liquid flows out and
gets separated.
• The miscible liquids
are separated by this
method.
• There should be a
difference in boiling
points of the
component liquids.
• The liquid with lower
b.pt gets evaporated
and thus separated,
leaving behind the
other one.
Q:5) How would you separate dirt particles from a given sample of pulses before cooking?
Q:6) How would you separate sugar mixed with wheat flour?
Q:7) Sarika has mixed some water in the coconut oil kept in the kitchen mischievously. But her mother got to
know about it just at the first sight of the oil. How is it possible? Will she be able to separate the two liquids?
Q:8) How would you separate the mixture of alcohol and water?

SEPARATION OF SUBSTANCES USING MORE THAN ONE METHOD

There are certain cases where components of a mixture cannot be separated by a single method. We have to use more
than one method for that purpose. While separating a mixture containing sand and salt, water is added to the mixture.
The salt dissolves in water and the sand is separated by filtration. Salt solution remains as a filtrate. The solution is
evaporated to get the salt back.

Answer the following:

Q:1) A mixture of nails, salt, oil and water is provided to you. Give stepwise methods to separate each component
from this mixture.
Ans: Separation of a sand and salt from its mixture:

Mixture of sand and salt is added to hot water and stirred well

The salt gets dissolved but the sand remains behind

The mixture is filtered using a filter paper

Sand is obtained as residue and salt solution as clear filtrate

The sand thus gets separated, salt remains in the solution

The filtrate is heated to evaporation, leaving behind salt

Q:2) Why does visibility increase after rain?

Ans: The rain drops act as a loading agent. The dust particles get loaded by the rain drops and settle down. This
makes the atmosphere clear after rain, hence increases the visibility.
Q:3) How would you separate the components of a mixture containing iron particles, camphor and salt?
Ans: Hint: magnetic separation, sublimation
Q:4) By which method would you separate the blood cells from a blood sample?
Ans: Centrifugation, a much-improved form of churning.
Q:5) Why is evaporation not suitable for getting pure salt from sea water? Explain. Name the suitable method.
Ans: By evaporation, the water from the sea water gets evaporated leaving behind all the soluble and insoluble
impurities along with salt. In this case, crystallisation is the suitable method as we can get pure salt crystals,
from sea water by this method.

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To be done in class notebook
Basic Science Pg No.47, 48:

A1. What are the following called?

a) A mixture with the same composition and properties throughout- Homogeneous

b) A mixture, the different parts of which vary in composition and properties- Heterogeneous
c) The solid that settles when a heterogeneous solid-liquid mixture is allowed to stand- Sediment
d) The liquid above the solid settling from a heterogeneous solid-liquid mixture – Supernatant liquid

A2. Can there be both types of solid-liquid mixtures- homogeneous as well as heterogeneous? Give two examples of
each type.
Ans. Solid-liquid mixtures can be homogeneous as well as heterogeneous. For example, Salt solution is a
homogeneous mixture whereas sand and water is a heterogeneous mixture.

A3. What is winnowing?

Ans. Winnowing is the method of separation of lighter solids from heavier ones by dropping the mixture from a
height. By this method, the lighter solid is drifted away by wind and the heavier solid falls vertically on the ground.

A4. How is cream obtained from milk?

Ans. Churning

A5. What is a saturated solution?

Ans. A solution that is not capable of dissolving any more solute at a given temperature is called a saturated solution.

B2. What do you mean by immiscible liquids? How are they separated?
Ans. The liquids which do not mix with each other and form separate layers are known as immiscible liquids. Eg. Oil
and water.
Immiscible liquids are separated by using separating funnel.

B3. How would you separate a mixture of sand and iron filings?
Ans. The mixture of sand and iron filings can be separated by magnetic separation.
The mixture is taken in a flat dish. A magnet is moved through the mixture. The iron particles cling to the magnet.
Sand is not attracted by the magnet, thus it is left behind. This is how, sand and iron particles get separated.

B4. How would you prepare crystals of sugar?

Ans. The crystals of sugar can be prepared in the following way.
• Some water is heated in a pan.
• Some sugar is dissolved in it continuously by stirring and heating till no more sugar dissolves.
• The hot solution is filtered into a jar.
• A string is tied to a pencil and is placed at the rim of the jar.
• The string is hanging in the solution.
• The setup is left undisturbed for a day or two.
• We will notice the formation of colourless crystals appeared around the string.

B5. How is common salt obtained from sea water?

Ans. Sea water is collected in shallow pits dug on the seashore. The heat of the sun makes the water evaporate. When
enough water has evaporated, the solution becomes concentrated. Then the salt begins to crystallise. Thus, common
salt obtained from sea water.

C2. You are given a mixture of salt and sand. How would you separate them?
Ans. The mixture of salt and sand can be separated by the following method:
• A mixture of sand and salt is taken in a beaker.
• Some water is mixed to the mixture and stirred vigorously.
• It is warmed from time to time and stirred so that all the salt dissolves in the water.
• The mixture is then filtered, and the residue is washed for 4-5 times with hot water.
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 • The filtrate is evaporated to dryness.
• The salt is obtained.
• The residue on the filter paper is sand, which can be dried in the sun

Q.No. D, E & F are to be done in class under the supervision of teacher.

NCERT QUESTIONS:

Q1. Why do we need to separate different components of a mixture? Give two examples.
Ans: We need to separate mixture for the following reasons:
a) To remove undesirable constituents
b) To obtain desirable substances
c) To obtain highly pure substances

Q4. What is sieving? Where is it used?

Ans. Sieving is the method of separating particles based on their size by using a mesh. The solid mixture is shaken in
the mesh. The particles smaller than the holes of the mesh fall and the bigger ones remain on the mesh.
It is used to separate stone and sand in construction site.

Q5. How will you separate sand and water from their mixture?
Ans. The mixture of sand and water is separated by sedimentation and decantation. If the mixture is allowed to stand
for some time, the solid will settle at the bottom and the liquid remain over it. The supernatant liquid is carefully
poured into another vessel, leaving behind the sediment.

Q7. How would you obtain clear water from a sample of muddy water?
Ans. Clear water is obtained from a sample of muddy water by filtration.

Q8. Fill up the blanks

(a) The method of separating seeds of paddy from its stalks is called __threshing_________.
(b) When milk, cooled after boiling, is poured onto a piece of cloth the cream (malai) is left behind on it. This process
of separating cream from milk is an example of ___filtration________.
(c) Salt is obtained from seawater by the process of ___crystallisation________.
(d) Impurities settled at the bottom when muddy water was kept overnight in a bucket. The clear water was then
poured off from the top. The process of separation used in this example is called __sedimentation_________.

Q9. True or false?

(a) A mixture of milk and water can be separated by filtration. (False)
(b) A mixture of powdered salt and sugar can be separated by the process of winnowing. ( False)
(c) Separation of sugar from tea can be done with filtration. (False)
(d) Grain and husk can be separated with the process of decantation. (False)

Q10. Lemonade is prepared by mixing lemon juice and sugar in water. You wish to add ice to cool it. Should you add
ice to the lemonade before or after dissolving sugar? In which case would it be possible to dissolve more sugar?
Ans. We would add ice to the lemonade after dissolving sugar to it. This is because the solubility decreases with
lowering of temperature.

COMPETENCY BASED QUESTIONS:

1. Give one example of sieving used in everyday life.
Ans: Separation of bran from flour.

2. What is the drawback of evaporation?

Ans:The liquid in the mixture is evaporated off into the air and is not recovered.

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3. Sheela, Saima and Ravi have to dissolve maximum amount of sugar in the same amount of milk so
as to win in a game. Ravi took hot boiling milk while Saima took ice cold milk. Sheela managed to
get milk at room temperature. Whom do you think would win the game and why?
Ans: Solubility of a solid generally increases with temperature. Thus, Ravi would win the game as he took
boiling milk which will dissolve the maximum sugar compare to Sheela and Saima.

Choose the correct option:

1. Paheli bought some vegetables such as french beans, lady’s finger, green chillies, brinjals and potatoes all
mixed in a bag. Which of the following methods of separation would be most appropriate for her to separate
them?
▪ (a) Winnowing
▪ (b) Sieving
▪ (c) Threshing
▪ (d) Hand picking
2. Boojho’s grandmother is suffering from diabetes. Her doctor advised her to take ‘Lassi’ with less fat content.
Which of the following methods would be most appropriate for Boojho to prepare it?
▪ (a) Filtration
▪ (b) Decantation
▪ (c) Churning
▪ (d) Winnowing
3. Which of the following mixtures would you be able to separate using the method of filtration?
▪ (a) Oil in water
▪ (b) Cornflakes in milk
▪ (c) Salt in water
▪ (d) Sugar in milk
4. Which amongst the following methods would be most appropriate to separate grains from bundles of stalks?
▪ (a) Hand picking
▪ (b) Winnowing
▪ (c) Sieving
▪ (d) Threshing
5. Four mixtures are given below
(i) Kidney beans and chick peas
(ii) Pulses and rice
(iii) Rice flakes and corn
(iv) Potato wafers and biscuits
Which of these can be separated by the method of winnowing?
▪ (a) (i) and (ii)
▪ (b) (ii) and (iii)
▪ (c) (i) and (iii)
▪ (d) (iii) and (iv)

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 6. While preparing chapatis, Paheli found that the flour to be used was mixed with wheat grains. Which out of
the following is the most suitable method to separate the grains from the flour?
▪ (a) Threshing
▪ (b) Sieving
▪ (c) Winnowing
▪ (d) Filtration
7. You might have observed the preparation of ghee from butter and cream at home. Which method(s) can be
used to separate ghee from the residue?
(i) Evaporation
(ii) Decantation
(iii) Filtration
(iv) Churning
Which of the following combination is the correct answer?
▪ (a) (i) and (ii)
▪ (b) (ii) and (iii)
▪ (c) (ii) and (iv)
▪ (d) (iv) only
8. In an activity, a teacher dissolved a small amount of solid copper sulphate in a tumbler half filled with water.
Which method would you use to get back solid copper sulphate from the solution?
▪ (a) Decantation
▪ (b) Evaporation
▪ (c) Sedimentation
▪ (d) Condensation
9. During summer, Boojho carries water in a transparent plastic bottle to his school. One day he left his bottle in
the school. The bottle still had some water left in it. The following day, he observed some water droplets on
the inner surface of the empty portion of the bottle. These droplets of water were formed due to
▪ (a) boiling and condensation.
▪ (b) evaporation and saturation.
▪ (c) evaporation and condensation.
▪ (d) condensation and saturation.
10. Paheli asked for a glass of water from Boojho. He gave her a glass of ice cold water. Paheli observed some
water droplets on the outer surface of the glass and asked Boojho how these droplets of water were formed?
Which of the following should be Boojho’s answer?
▪ (a) Evaporation of water from the glass.
▪ (b) Water that seeped out from the glass.
▪ (c) Evaporation of atmospheric water vapour.
▪ (d) Condensation of atmospheric water vapour.

Answers:
1. d 2. c 3. b 4. d

5. d 6. b 7. b 8. b

9. c 10. d