More Separation Techniques

Gravity separation

centrifuge

• Uses the force of gravity to separate mixtures
• Solid is based on density
• Centrifuge whirls the test tube at high speeds so the solids or heavy fluids would sink to the bottom and lighter liquids would stay at the top

o A centrifuge is a device that spins test tubes in a circle

   (see picture)

Solvent Extraction

• Component moves into a solvent shaken with the mixture
• mechanical mixture: solid—solid: uses liquid to dissolve one solid, leaving the other behind
• solution: insoluble with the solvent already present, leaving unwanted substance(s) behind

example of distillation

Distillation (liquid in liquid)

• heating mixture cause low-boiling components to vaporize
• distillation is collected and condensed
• liquid(s) with low boiling points boils first, which is collected in another flask and condensed

 

By: Jason Zhang