3. Separation of Matter

Matter

Any substance that has mass and occupies space

Pure substances

Elements like N₂ or Cu

Compounds like CO₂ and C₆H₁₂O₁₁

3 Types of Mixtures + Classifications

Solutions:

• HOMOgenous(dissolved, invisible particles)

• Gatorade, Pure Air

Suspensions:

• HETEROgenous(large, temporary particles that settle out over gravity)

• Smoothie, Coffee, Dirty Air

Mechanical Mixtures:

• Clearly visible, physically separated components

• Dirt

Floatation

• Air or chemical added to a liquid to separate denser component

• Product scrapped out the top

ex: Tar sands mixed with hot water and oil floats to the top

Crystalization

• A solution is evaporated in order to recover a product.

• A dissolved solid is separated by cooling or concentrating the solution to crystalize the solid.

*Unwanted material is lost

ex: Salt production

Settling

• The liquid is allowed to sit and let heavier compounds sink to the bottom.

• A centrifuge can be used to speed up the process.

ex: DNA extraction, sewage treatment plant.

Mechanical Separation

• The desired compounds are picked out of the mixture.

• May use magnets to separate metals.

ex: Junkyard, recycling yard, diamond mining.

Extraction

• The mixture is mixed with a solvent and separated from the other material.

Ex: Separating table salt and sand by adding water(solvent) to extract salt.

Fractional Distillation

• A liquid mixture is separated by boiling and condensing at a specific temperature

ex: Oil refinary, hard liquor production.

Chromatography

• A mixture is separated into its parts by “running” the material through a gel or paper medium.

• Small molecules travel the farthest and large molecules move slightly.

ex: Paper chromatography, DNA analysis.

Filtration

• A material is passed through a screen(paper or wire) and large particles are removed.

Ex: Car air filters, oil filter.