1. Methods of Mixture Separation
Mechanical Separation (often by hand) takes advantage of physical properties such as color and shape.
Example: Recycling Plastic, Paper, Metal

2. Methods of Mixture Separation
2) Magnetic Separation takes advantage of the physical property of magnetism.
Example: Separating Metals in a Scrap Yard

3. Magnetic Separation Example
Turbo Beads Animation
This video clip illustrate how tiny (nanoparticle size) magnetic beads called Turbo Beads can be used to separate dissolved impurities (magnetic chemical compounds) from water.

4. Methods of Mixture Separation
3) Filtration takes advantage of the physical property of the state of matter. A screen lets the liquid particles through, but traps the solid particles.
Example: Filtering Coffee, Spaghetti

5. A filter can also be used to separate solid particles of different sizes.
(ex. a window screen, an air filter, a sand sieve)

6. Methods of Mixture Separation
4) Decanting:
To pour off a liquid, leaving another liquid or solid behind. Takes advantage of differences in density.
Example: To decant a liquid from a precipitate or water from rice.

7. Methods of Mixture Separation
5 ) Distillation: The separation of a mixture of liquids based on the physical property of boiling point.
Example: the distillation of alcohol or oil

8. Distillation Animation
This animation shows how two liquids dissolved together can be separated by distillation at their respective and different boiling points.

9. A distillation tower or “still” used in crude oil refining

10. Methods of Mixture Separation
6) Evaporation: Vaporizing a liquid and leaving the dissolved solid(s) behind. Used to separate salt solutions.
Example: Obtaining sea salt from sea water evaporation ponds

11. Methods of Mixture Separation
7) Density Separation:
More dense components
sink to the bottom and
less dense components
float. The components
cannot be soluble within
each other.

12. Methods of Mixture Separation
8) Centrifuge:
Circular motion helps denser components sink to the bottom faster.
Examples: The separation of blood or DNA from blood

13. DNA Separation Animation
This video animation explains how DNA is separated out of blood. Centrifuging is used multiple times in the process.

14. Methods of Mixture Separation
9) Paper chromatography:
Uses the property of molecular attraction
(molecular polarity) to separate a mixture. Different molecules have varying molecular attractions for the paper (the stationary phase) vs. the solvent (the mobile phase)
Example: the separation of plant pigments and dyes

15. Chromatography Animation
This animation shows how the different molecular components of a mixture are separated out based upon their varying molecular attractions for the mobile phase (a solvent like water) and the stationary phase (like paper or resin beads).

16. Methods of Mixture Separation
10) Fractional
Crystallization:
Dissolved
substances
crystallize out of a
solution once their
solubility limit is
reached as
the solution cools.
Examples: Growing Rock Candy or the Crystallization of a Magma Chamber

17. Fractional Crystallization Animation
This animation shows how fractional crystallization occurs in natural magma chambers (below ground) as the magma cools and the different mineral components reach their solubility limits at different temperatures during the cooling process.