Common Physical Separation Methods: A Student's Guide
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24 cards
Question: What is the general definition of sieving when separating mixtures?
Answer: Sieving separates particles by size using a mesh: smaller particles pass through while larger ones remain on top.
Question: How does filtering separate mixtures?
Answer: Filtering passes a mixture through a filter (paper, cloth, or porous membrane) that traps solid particles while the liquid or gas passes through.
Question: What is hand sorting as a method of separation?
Answer: Hand sorting is manually picking out different materials one by one, used for small mixtures like different seeds or rocks.
Question: How does settling separate a mixture of solid and liquid?
Answer: Settling lets the mixture stand undisturbed so solid particles sink to the bottom while the liquid remains on top.
Question: What is decanting and when is it used?
Answer: Decanting pours the liquid off the top of a mixture, leaving solids at the bottom; commonly used to separate supernatant from precipitates.
Question: Why are physical separation methods useful?
Answer: They separate mixtures without changing the chemical properties of the materials.
Question: Which separation method would you use to separate pebbles from sand?
Answer: Sieving (or hand sorting if done manually).
Question: Which method is suitable for separating the fat from liquid in gravy or broth?
Answer: Filtering or decanting (decanting to pour off liquid; filtering can trap fat particles).
Question: Which method purifies water by removing impurities in the context given?
Answer: Filtering.
Question: Which method separates solid particles from a liquid in a laboratory experiment (e.g., separating precipitate)?
Answer: Filtering or decanting (decanting to pour off supernatant; filtering to trap solids).