Term 3: Separation technique

(6) Separation technique

  There are many separation techniques. Namely, Filtration, Simple Distillation, Fractional Distillation, Separation funnel and Crystallisation and chromatography.

 

Filtration

Filtration is separating a solid from a liquid.

Below is an illustrated filtration process:

Distillation is used to purify liquids. A setup for simple distillation is shown.

Fractional Distillation

Similarly, this process is also used to purify liquids. The apparatus is also about the same as simple distillation, with an additional fractionating column. However, this time, this technique can only be done on liquids that have similar boiling points. For fractional distillation, they get distilled, and  the liquid with the lowest boiling point is distilled first. The liquid with the highest boiling point is distilled last.

Crystallisation

Crystallisation is about crystallising solutions. When the solution is heated, most of the solvent would be evaporated off, and the hot solution, would then be left there to cool down to room temperature. When this happens, the crystals will then be formed from the solute.

Chromtography

It is a separation technique that helps to identify and separate mixtures. The type of chromotography I will be focusing on would be paper chromotography.