Techniques for separating mixtures etc.

Solvation

A chemical process where solvent molecules surround and interact with solute particles, such as ions or molecules, leading to the dissolution and dispersal of the solute within the solvent

• Exploiting differences in a substance's solubility

Filtration

A physical process that separates solid particles from a liquid or gas by passing the mixture through a porous filter medium.

• To separate an insoluble solid from a liquid or gas

Recrystallisation

A purification technique for solid compounds, where an impure solid is dissolved in a hot solvent, then slowly cooled to form pure crystals, leaving impurities dissolved in the remaining solution

• Differences in solubility

Evaporation

A separation method for mixtures of a soluble solid dissolved in a liquid, where the liquid component (solvent) is heated and vaporises, leaving the solid behind

• To separate a solid from a solution when the solid is non-volatile

Distillation

A separation and purification technique that involves heating the liquid mixture to create a vapour, then cooling the vapour in a condenser to collect the purified liquid, or distillate, in a separate container.

• Differing boiling points or vapour pressures

Paper chromatography

A separation technique that uses paper as a stationary phase to separate components of a mixture

• Differing solubilities and affinities for the stationary phase and a mobile liquid solvent