How could you separate a mixture of water, rock salt, sawdust, and iron filings? Would this require physical means, chemical means, or both?
To separate a mixture of water, rock salt, sawdust, and iron filings, you would need to use a combination of physical and chemical means. Here's how you can do it:
1. Start by using a magnet to separate the iron filings from the mixture. Since iron is magnetic, the filings will be attracted to the magnet, allowing you to remove them easily.
2. Next, dissolve the rock salt in water. Salt is soluble in water, which means it will dissolve and form a saltwater solution.
3. Once the salt has dissolved, you can separate the saltwater solution from the sawdust using filtration. Place a filter paper or a fine mesh screen over a container and carefully pour the mixture through it. The sawdust, being solid particles, will be caught by the filter paper, while the saltwater solution will pass through.
4. To obtain pure water from the saltwater solution, you can use distillation. Heat the saltwater solution to evaporate the water, leaving behind the salt. The water vapor will condense and can be collected as pure water.
In summary, the separation process involves using a magnet to remove the iron filings, dissolving the rock salt in water and filtering to separate it from the sawdust, and then using distillation to obtain pure water from the saltwater solution. Thus, both physical (magnet) and chemical (dissolution and distillation) means are required.
To separate a mixture of water, rock salt, sawdust, and iron filings, physical means and chemical means would both be required. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to separate the components:
1. Physical Separation:
a. Use a magnet to attract and separate the iron filings from the mixture. Move the magnet around the mixture and the iron filings will cling to it due to their magnetic nature.
b. Once the iron filings are separated, set them aside in a different container for later use.
2. Chemical Separation:
a. Dissolve the mixture in water to separate the salt from the sawdust. As both salt and sawdust are soluble in water, water can be used as a solvent to dissolve the salt, leaving the sawdust behind. Stir the mixture until the salt is completely dissolved.
b. After the salt has dissolved, use filtration to separate the sawdust from the solution. Pour the mixture through filter paper or a sieve, and the sawdust will be trapped while the saltwater passes through.
c. Set the filtered solution of saltwater aside for the next step.
3. Physical Separation:
a. To retrieve the salt from the saltwater solution, you can use evaporation. Pour the saltwater solution into a shallow dish or container and leave it to evaporate. As the water evaporates, salt crystals will start to form.
b. Once most of the water has evaporated, you can collect the salt crystals that remain in the container.
In summary, the separation of the mixture would require physical means (magnet for iron filings, filtration for sawdust) and chemical means (dissolving in water and evaporation for salt).
Iron filings are magnetic. Use a magnet.
saw dust floats on water. Use a skimmer.
Evaporate H2O and rock salt is left. If you wish to recover the water you can distill the water/rock salt mixture and collect the water. The rock salt stays behind in the distillation flask.