Experiment
Separation of the
Components of
a Mixture
3
To become familiar with the methods of separating substances from one OBJECTIVE
another using decantation, extraction, and sublimation techniques.
Apparatus APPARATUS
balance 50 or 100 mL graduated cylinder AND CHEMICALS
Bunsen burner and hose clay triangles (2) or wire gauze (2)
tongs ring stands (2)
evaporating dishes (2) iron rings (2)
watch glass glass stirring rods
Chemicals
unknown mixture of sodium
chloride, ammonium chloride,
and silicon dioxide
Most of the matter people encounter in everyday life consists of mixtures of DISCUSSION
different substances. Mixtures are combinations of two or more substances
in which each substance retains its own chemical identity and therefore its own
properties. Whereas pure substances have fixed compositions, the composition
of mixtures can vary ( Section 1.2). For example, a glass of sweetened tea
may contain a little or a lot of sweetener. The substances making up a mixture
are called components. Mixtures such as cement, wood, rocks, and soil do not
have the same composition, properties, and appearance throughout the mixture.
Such mixtures are called heterogeneous. Mixtures that are uniform in
composition, properties, and appearance throughout are called homogeneous.
Such mixtures include sugar water and air. Homogeneous mixtures are also
called solutions. Mixtures are characterized by two fundamental properties:
• Each of the substances in the mixture retains its chemical identity.
• Mixtures are separable into these components by physical means.
If one of the substances in a mixture is preponderant—that is, if its amount far
exceeds the amounts of the other substances in the mixture—you usually call
this mixture an impure substance and speak of the other substances in the
mixture as impurities.
The preparation of compounds usually involves their separation or isolation
from reactants or other impurities. Thus, the separation of mixtures into their
components and the purification of impure substances are common problems. You
are probably aware of everyday problems of this sort. For example, drinking water
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