Separation Methods

takes advantage of physical properties such as color and shape

mechanical separation

recycling plastic, paper, metal

mechanical separation

takes advantage of the physical property of magnetism

magnetic separation

separating metals in a scrap yard

magnetic separation

takes advantage of the physical property of state of matter. A screen lets the liquid particles pass through, but traps the solid particles

filtration

filtering coffee, sphagetti, etc.

filtration

can be used to separate solid particles of different sizes

filter

to pour off a liquid, leaving the solid or liquid particles behind. Takes the advantage of differences in density

decanting

to decant a liquid from a precipitate or water from rice

decanting

the separation of mixture of liquids based on the physical property of boiling point

distillation

distillation of alcohol or oil

distillation

vaporizing a liquid and leaving the dissolved solids behind. Used to separate salt solutions

evaporation

obtaining sea salt from sea water, evaporation ponds

evaporation

more dense components sink to the bottom and less dense components float. The components cannot be soluble within each other

density separation

circular motion helps denser components sink to the bottom faster

centrifuge

the separation of blood or DNA from blood

centrifuge

uses the property of molecular attraction(molecular polarity) to separate mixture.

paper chromatography

the separation of plant pigments and dyes

paper chromatography

dissolved particles crystallize out of a solution once their solubility limit is reached as the solution cools

fractional crystallization

growing rock candy or the crystallization of a magma chamber

fractional crystallization