5

Separation of Substances
NCF Competencies Covered:
Expected Learning Outcomes C-5.1 and C-7.2

Knowledge to be gained: •Components of a mixture •Methods of separation of substances from a

mixture •Solutions
Skill to be developed: •Methods of separation of substances from different kinds of mixtures
like—reshing, winnowing, sieving, sedimentation, decantation, ltration, etc.
Attitude to be inculcated: •Understanding which separation method is best suited for a particular
mixture.

COMPONENTS OF A MIXTURE of tea.

Many things that we see and use everyday Just like tea, most substances around us are a
are a mixture of different things. Soil is a mixture of two or more elements or
mixture of—sand, clay, pebbles, minerals compounds.
and rotting plants and animals. Rocks are a A mixture can be a solid, liquid or gas. For
mixture of different minerals. Air is a example, soil is a solid mixture; milk is a
mixture of many gases—nitrogen oxygen, liquid mixture and air is a gaseous mixture.
carbon dioxide, etc. Materials which Most of the things we use in our daily life
contain two or more substances in any are mixtures.
proportion are known as mixtures.
Separation of the Components of a Mixture
e substances which make up a mixture Generally, desirable or undesirable
are called its components. For example, tea components are separated from their
leaves, sugar and water are the components mixtures. For example, tea leaves are
Separation of substances 57
 separated from milk by churning it; crude
oil is a mixture of kerosene, petrol and
diesel. All three are separated and used
differently.
METHODS OF SEPARATION OF
COMPONENTS FROM MIXTURES
Tea leaves are separated Butter is separated from
by using a strainer milk by churning We cannot separate the components of
Fig.1 Separation of materials different mixtures using the same method.
separated from tea, seeds are separated from
ere are various methods used to separate
fruits, stones and husks are removed from individual components from a mixture.
rice before cooking, milk is churned to Some of the commonly used methods are
obtain butter and so on. hand-picking, threshing, sieving,
Why Do We Separate Mixtures? magnetic separation, decantation,
ltration, distillation, etc.
e components of a mixture are separated
for many reasons. Some of them are as follows: To separate the components of a mixture,
1. To remove undesirable or harmful we make use of the properties of its
substances. For example: Before cooking components.
rice, your mother separates the small Let us now study different methods used
stones or husk particles from the raw rice; a to separate the components of various
strainer is used to remove tea leaves before mixtures.
drinking tea.
SEPARATING A MIXTURE OF TWO
2. To obtain a useful substance from a raw OR MORE SOLIDS
material. For example: Metals, such as iron
A mixture of two or more solids can be
and copper, are obtained in the form of
separated by using the following methods:
mixtures from the Earth's crust and are
then separated from it. u Handpicking u reshing
Pure water is needed to prepare medicines. u Winnowing u Sieving
Regular water contains various dissolved Let us understand these methods.
salts and impure substances in it. It is sent
Handpicking
through a process of distillation to obtain
pure water (distilled water). Handpicking is a method in which
components of a mixture are separated by
3. To separate different useful components
hand (Fig.2).
of a mixture. For example: Butter is
58 Exploring Science-6
 Fig.2 Handpicking Fig.3 reshing Fig.4 Winnowing

The handpicking method is generally used allows the mixture of chaff and grain to fall
to separate undesirable substances, such as from a height. e chaff, being lighter, blows
small pieces of stones from wheat, rice and with the wind to a distance, while the grain
pulses. is method is used when the being heavier falls straight down. e farmer
components are big enough to be picked by gets two separate heaps of chaff and grain.
hand and few in number. is method is also is process of separating the wheat grain
used to pick tea leaves from tea plantations. from chaff is called winnowing. It is used to
reshing separate chaff and husk from various types of
When a farmer harvests wheat or paddy crop, grains like wheat, rice, lentils, etc.
he cuts the crop plants, dries them and ties Winnowing basket
them in bundles of stalks (stems). ese stalks Husk
have food-grains attached to their tops. ese (Lighter)

grains have to be separated from the stalks. In Wheat

(Heavier)
order to separate them from the stalks, the
stalks are threshed (beaten) on a wooden
board. Machines (threshers) and bullocks are Fig.5 Winnowing is used to separate
wheat grains from chaff
also used to separate the grains. e process
In large farms, mechanised harvesters are
by which stalks (of wheat, paddy, etc.) are
used, which help in harvesting, threshing
beaten to separate grains is called threshing
and winnowing. is is done by using a
(Fig.3). It is done either by beating the stalks
machine, called a combine.
on the ground or on a hard surface.
Winnowing
You must have visited a village and seen a
farmer winnowing, as shown in Fig.4.
A farmer, aer harvesting the wheat from the
eld, threshes it to loosen the chaff from the
grain. e chaff is lighter and the grain is
heavier. erefore, on a windy day, the farmer Fig.6 A combine harvesting, threshing and winnowing

Separation of substances 59
 components (of varied-sized particles) of a
mixture by passing them through a suitable
sieve. You might have seen your mother
sieving the our. Sieving removes bran and
impurities present in the our. Similarly,
pebbles are separated from sand by using a
larger sieve at a construction site.
Fig.7 Sieving our Can we use this method, if the size of the
pebbles and the sand were the same?
Sieving
Why/Why not? It is because both, the pebbles
When the constituents of a mixture have and sand, would pass through the sieve. us,
particles of different sizes, a sieve can be used we can use sieving as a method of separation
to separate them. only if the components of a mixture are of
Sieving is a method of separating the different sizes.
Different methods of separating mixtures of solids
Method To separate impurities
reshing To separate grains from stalk
Winnowing To separate lighter materials from grains with the help of wind
Handpicking To separate husks or stones by handpicking
Sieving To separate bran from our by passing them through a sieve

Checkpoint-1
Write True or False
1. e substances which make a mixture are called its components. ___________
2. Winnowing is the method of separating husks from grains. ___________
3. Pebbles are separated from sand by using the sieving method. ___________
4. Soil is a mixture of many gases. ___________
5. We can separate components of different mixtures by using the same method. ___________

SEPARATING INSOLUBLE SOLIDS u Sedimentation

FROM LIQUIDS u Decantation
Some solids are soluble in liquids, while u Filtration
others are not. Insoluble solids in liquids Sedimentation and Decantation
can be separated using methods like: Let us do an activity.
60 Exploring Science-6
 e insoluble solid substance that settles at
Activity-1
the bottom of a liquid is called sediment
Aim: To separate a mixture of insoluble and the process of settling down of the
solids in a liquid by sedimentation and sediment is called sedimentation.
decantation.
e process of pouring out the liquid
Materials required: Two beakers, sand,
without disturbing the sediment is called
water and a glass rod.
decantation.
Rice and pulses are soaked in water before
Mixture of sand
and water Clear water cooking. e water is then removed by the
process of decantation.
Sand
e process of decantation can also be used to
separate a mixture of two immiscible liquids.
Mixture Sedimentation Decantation Filtration
Fig.8 Separation of a mixture by Let us now try another method to separate a
sedimentation and decantation mixture of sand and water.
Procedure:
Activity-2 NCF C-7.2
Fill half a beaker with water and mix a little
sand in it. Allow the mixture of sand and Aim: To separate a mixture of sand and water.
water to stand undisturbed for some time. In Materials required: Filter paper, a funnel, two
some time, the heavier sand particles would beakers, an iron stand, a glass rod, sand and
settle down at the bottom of the beaker. is water.
layer of sand is called sediment. Procedure: Take a lter paper and place it in a
When the sand settles down, carefully pour funnel aer making its cone (Fig.9). Set up the
the water into another beaker, using a glass apparatus as shown in Fig.10. Pour the
rod. Do not disturb the sand deposited at the mixture containing sand and water over the
lter paper using a glass rod. Take care that the
bottom.
water does not go over the top edge of the lter
Observation: A mixture of insoluble solids paper. What do you observe?
in a liquid settles down at the base of the
Observation: Clear water gets collected in the
container when le undisturbed. e liquid
beaker kept below the funnel, and sand
can be separated from the solids by pouring remains in the lter paper.
it into another container.
Conclusion: A mixture of insoluble solids
in a liquid can be separated by
sedimentation and decantation. Fig.9 Folding a lter paper into a cone

Separation of substances 61
 Conclusion: A mixture of sand and water can SEPARATING SOLUBLE SOLIDS
be separated by using lter paper. FROM LIQUIDS
We can separate a soluble solid from a liquid
by the following methods:
u Evaporation

Glass rod Sandy water u Distillation

Evaporation
Filter paper cone
Many solids dissolve in water. Salt and sugar
Sand particles
(residue) dissolve completely in water. However, we
cannot separate salt or sugar from water by
Clear water any of the methods of separation studied till
( ltrate)
now. To separate them from water, we use a
method called evaporation.
Fig.10 Filtration by lter paper
Evaporation is the process of converting
is method of separating sand and water
water into water vapour.
by using a lter paper is called ltration.
Filtration is a method of separating insoluble e process of evaporation is used to recover
solid components from a liquid by passing a solid component that has been dissolved in
them through a lter. e substance that water or some other liquid. e dissolved
remains in the lter is called the residue and solid is le behind as a residue when the
the substance that ows through the lter liquid evaporates. Let us learn this with the
paper is called the ltrate. help of an activity.

Activity-3
Aim: To separate a mixture of salt and water.
Water evaporates
Materials required: A China dish, a spirit lamp, a tripod
stand, a wire gauze, a stirrer, water and salt. Solution of salt
and water
Procedure: Take some water in a China dish and add a
teaspoonful of salt to it. Stir the mixture well until the salt Burner
(a)
dissolves in the water. Now, heat the China dish containing
the mixture of salt and water till the water evaporates.
Salt le
Observation: e water evaporates and salt is le in the behind
China dish.
(b)
Conclusion: Salt can be separated from a mixture of salt and
water by evaporation. Fig.11 Separation of salt dissolved in water

62 Exploring Science-6
 Different methods to separate the mixture of solids and liquids
Name of the methods To separate impurities
Sedimentation e process of settling heavier solid particles at the bottom of the
container containing the mixture.
Decantation e process of transferring the supernatant liquid by gently pouring it
into another container.
Filtration e process of separating the undesirable materials from the mixture by
passing through a lter.
Evaporation e process of separating the solute from the mixture by heating the
solution.

e method of evaporation is used on an distillation. In distillation, we can recover

industrial scale to obtain common salt both solid particles as well as the liquid
from seawater. (in which the solid was dissolved).
Seawater has common salt, as well as other Disti l l ati on works on the pro c ess
salts, dissolved in it. To separate common of e vap or ati on and c ond ens ati on,
salt from the seawater, the seawater is simultaneously. For example, to separate
trapped in shallow pits and is le in the sun salt dissolved in water, the water solution
for long. e sun's heat evaporates all the containing the salt is kept in a ask (Flask 1).
water, leaving the salts behind. is mixture
As the water in Flask 1 is heated, it
of salts is then puri ed to obtain common
evaporates. An apparatus called the Liebig’s
salt.
condenser is attached to the top of Flask 1.
As the water vapour rises and gets into the
Liebig’s condenser, it cools and condenses.
is process forms drops of condensed pure
water (distilled) on the other side of Liebig’s
condenser. is pure (distilled) water is
collected in another ask (Flask 2). Aer all
the water in Flask 1 evaporates, we are le
with solid salt particles in it and distilled
Fig.12 Separation of salt from
seawater by evaporation water in Flask 2.
Distillation Distillation is a method of obtaining pure
Another method used to separate soluble liquid from a solution by the process of
solids from a solid-liquid mixture is heating and cooling, simultaneously.
Separation of substances 63
 Water out

Liebig’s condenser
Water in
Flask 2 (Conical ask)
Solution
Flask 1 (Round
Distilled water
bottom ask)

Burner

Fig.13 Distillation

Knowledge Booster NCF C-5.1

Procedure: Take some mustard oil in a beaker
A method of cleaning water
for drinking purpose which is and add some water to it. Stir the mixture well
gaining popularity these days, and allow it to stand for some time. Observe it.
is reverse osmosis (RO). In this
Now, hold the beaker containing the liquid
method, water is passed
through a special membrane mixture and pour the component that forms
called a semi-permeable the top layer into another beaker.
membrane. It has millions of
very fine pores through which water can pass, but Observation: Mustard oil and water do not
impuri es cannot. R.O. water filters are mix with each other. ey form separate
commonly available in the market.
layers. Mustard oil forms the top layer.
SEPARATING INSOLUBLE LIQUIDS Conclusion: Mustard oil can be separated
FROM A LIQUID MIXTURE from water by decantation.
We cannot separate a mixture of two liquids
that do not mix with each other by ltration.
ese two liquids can be separated by using the
method of decantation. Let us try to do this.
Mustard oil

Activity-4 Water
Mustard oil

Aim: To separate a mixture of mustard oil and

water by decantation.
Materials required: Mustard oil, two beakers,
water and a glass rod. Fig.14 Mustard oil settles over water

64 Exploring Science-6
Liquids that mix with each other are called the stopcock, water ows through it and gets
miscible liquids. Water and milk are collected in the beaker and mustard oil remains
miscible liquids. e liquids that do not in the separating funnel, which can be collected
mix with each other are called immiscible in a separate beaker.
liquids. Oil and water are immiscible Conclusion: A mixture of mustard oil and
liquids. water can be separated by using a separating
funnel.
We can also use a separating funnel to
separate a mixture of mustard oil and water.
Knowledge Booster
Activity-5 NCF C-7.2 Water can dissolve many substances, i.e., solids
liquids and even gases. It is, therefore, known as a
Aim: To separate a mixture of mustard oil and universal solvent.
water by using a separating funnel. SOLUTION
Materials required: A mixture of mustard oil e substance that dissolves in a liquid is
and water, a separating funnel, an iron stand called a solute. For example, salt is a solute.
and two beakers. e substance in which a solute dissolves is
Procedure: Pour the mixture containing called a solvent. For example, salt dissolves
mustard oil and water into a separating funnel. in water. So, water is the solvent.
Allow it to stand for some time. Note your
In an earlier example, in Activity-3, we added
observations. Now, place a beaker below the
separating funnel, as shown in the gure, and
water to dissolve the salt. is type of
open the stopcock. Allow the water to ow mixture is called a solution. A solvent and a
through it. When all the water ows through it, solute together form a solution. A solution
close the stopcock. generally contains a solid dissolved in a
Observation: Mustard oil and water form two liquid.
separate layers. Water forms the lower layer and Water is known as a universal solvent
mustard oil forms the upper layer. On opening because water can dissolve a large number
of substances in it.
Separating funnel
Salt
Oil layer (less dense) Water Water
Water layer Salt
(more dense)
Retort
stand Stopcock (tap)

Beaker
Water
Solute Solvent Solution
Fig.15 Separation using a separating funnel Fig.16 Solute, Solvent and Solution
Separation of substances 65
 Activity-6 solubility changes with temperature.
Aim: To check how much salt can be If we cool this solution now, the solubility will
dissolved in water. decrease and some salt will reappear at the
bottom of the glass.
Method: Take about half a glass of water.
Add a spoonful of salt to it and stir with a You can also make the saturated solution of
spoon. You will see that the salt dissolves sugar in the same way. Compare the number
completely and is not visible aer a minute. of spoonfuls of salt and sugar used to make
Solvent Solute the saturated solution at room temperature.
300 ml
You will observe that more salt was added
250 ml than sugar. is is because different
200 ml

150 ml substances have different solubilities.

Solution
100 ml

50 ml
Remember to use the same volume of water
and same-sized spoons for salt and sugar.
Fig.17 A saturated solution
e amount of solute that can be dissolved
Add another spoonful of salt and stir. Keep
on adding the spoonfuls of salt till some salt in the solvent is known as the solubility of the
remains at the bottom of the glass, even aer solute at a given temperature.
stirring it for a minute. is means no more e solubility of a solute increases with
salt can be dissolved in water. Such a solution an increase in the temperature of the
is called a saturated solution and the
solution, and the solubility decreases
amount of salt that can be dissolved in the
with a decrease in the temperature of the
given volume of water is called its solubility.
solution.
If we now heat this solution, we will see that
the salt remaining at the bottom of the glass Different solutes have different solubilities.
dissolves. A solution that cannot dissolve any more
Hot water can dissolve more salt than solute in itself (at a given temperature) is
water at room temperature. is proves that known as a saturated solution.
Checkpoint-2
Fill in the blanks
1. e substance that settles at the bottom of a liquid is called _____________.
2. e method of separating sand and water by using a lter paper is called _____________.
3. e liquids that do not mix with each other are called _____________ liquids.
4. e mixture of solute and solvent is called a _____________.
5. A solution in which no more solute can be dissolved at a given temperature is called a
_____________ solution.

66 Exploring Science-6
Keywords
Mixture : Materials containing two or more substances in any proportion.
resher : A machine used for threshing.
Winnowing : Process of separating food-grains from chaff.
Sediment : Insoluble solid that settles at the bottom of a liquid mixture.
Residue : The substance that remains on the lter paper.
Filtrate : The liquid that ows through the lter paper.
Distilled water : Water puri ed by distillation.
Solute : The component present in lower quantity in a mixture.
Solvent : The component present in a higher quantity in a mixture.
Solution : A mixture of solute and solvent.

Points to Remember
u Most things that we see everyday are a mixture of different things.
u Materials which contain two or more substances in any proportion are known as mixtures.
u Materials which make up a mixture are called its components.
u We separate components of a mixture to remove undesirable substances and obtain useful
substances.
u Handpicking, threshing, winnowing and sieving are some methods through which a mixture
of two or more solids can be separated.
u e method of separating a mixture into its components by hand is called handpicking.
u e process used to separate grains by beating stalks is called threshing.
u Winnowing is a method used by farmers to separate husk from grains.
u Sieving is a method of separating a mixture of various-sized particles by passing them
through a suitable sieve.
u Insoluble solids can be separated from liquids by sedimentation, decantation and ltration.
u Sedimentation is the process of settling down of heavier solids in the mixture of a solid and a
liquid.
u Decantation is the process of removing the supernatant liquid above the sediment in a
mixture of a solid and a liquid.
u e method of separating insoluble solids and liquids by using a lter paper is called
ltration.

Separation of substances 67
 u Liquids that mix with each other are called miscible liquids and liquids which do not mix
with each other are called immiscible liquids.
u Soluble solids can be separated from liquids by evaporation and distillation.

u A substance that dissolves in a liquid is called a solute.

u A substance in which a solute dissolves is called a solvent.

u e mixture of solute and solvent is called a solution.

Exercise
A. Tick (3) the Correct Option
1. Rocks are a mixture of different ______________.
(a) gases (b) minerals
(c) pebbles (d) plants
2. e process used to separate grains from stalks is called ______________.
(a) threshing (b) winnowing
(c) handpicking (d) distillation
3. Liquids that mix with each other are called ______________ liquids.
(a) miscible (b) immiscible
(c) distilled (d) none of these
4. A substance that dissolves in a liquid is called a ______________.
(a) solute (b) solvent
(c) solution (d) none of these
5. Which of these is known as a universal solvent?
(a) Air (b) Water
(c) Salt (d) Sugar
B. Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Words
1. e substances which make up a mixture are called its ______________.
2. Butter is separated from milk by ______________.
3. e process of pouring out of liquid without disturbing the sediment is called __________.
4. e substance that remains on the lter paper is called the ______________.
5. A mixture of mustard oil and water can be separated by using a separating ____________.

68 Exploring Science-6
C. Very Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. A mixture can be a solid, liquid or gas. True or False?
2. De ne the following terms:
(a) Handpicking (b) Winnowing (c) Sieving (d) reshing
3. Which method can be used to separate pieces of stones from pulses at home?
4. Name the process by which water is separated from rice and pulses aer washing them.
5. Name the methods that can be used to obtain clean water from muddy water.
6. Name the methods that can be used to separate two immiscible liquids.
7. Which method is used by the salt industry to obtain common salt from seawater?
8. Which type of impurities can be separated by the ltration method?
9. Which solvent can be used to dissolve salt and sugar?
10. Which method is used to get pure water from a solution containing impurities and salts
along with water?
11. Different solutes have different solubility. True or False?
12. What are saturated solutions?
D. Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. Write down the methods that can be used to separate a mixture of two or more solids.
2. Why cannot we use sieving as a method of separation of components, if the components of a
mixture are of similar size?
3. De ne the following terms:
(a) Sediment (b) Sedimentation (c) Decantation
4. Explain the terms residue and ltrate with respect to the ltration process.
5. De ne evaporation. Give one use of the process of evaporation.
6. De ne the following terms:
(a) Solute (b) Solvent (c) Solution
7. Why is water known as a universal solvent?
8. De ne the solubility of a solute.
9. How is the solubility of a solute affected by an increase or decrease in temperature?
10. A saturated solution of sugar and water is heated. Can you dissolve more sugar in it? Why?
E. Long-Answer-Type Questions
1. Give three reasons for separating components from their mixture.
2. Explain in brief, the various methods used for separating solids from other solids.

Separation of substances 69
 3. Write an activity to separate salt from water.
4. Explain with the help of a diagram how we can separate a mixture of oil and water.
5. Explain with reason which method of separation can be used for the following:
(a) To separate pebbles from sand.
(b) To separate small stones or husks from rice grains before cooking.
(c) To separate tea granules from a cup of tea.
6. De ne distillation. Explain with a diagram how salt and other impurities are separated from
a solution of salt water by the process of distillation.
7. What is a mixture? Give examples of mixtures in the following cases:
(a) One component is solid and the other component is liquid.
(b) One component is gas and the other component is liquid.
(c) Both the components are solids.
(d) Both the components are liquids.

HOTS Critical Thinking

1. What happens to the impurities if you keep muddy water overnight in a bucket? Give
reasons to support your answer.
2. Why cannot we separate small stone particles from wheat by the process of winnowing?
3. If you are given a mixture of sand, salt and iron llings, describe a step-by-step plan for
separating each component effectively.
4. Explain the method which you will use to separate a mixture of common salt and chalk
powder.

Activity Zone
A. Complete the crossword puzzle given on the next page with the help of the given clues.
Down
Ë

1. e process used to separate grains from stalks

3. e process of changing water into water vapour
4. A solution in which no more solute can be dissolved at a given temperature
Across Ë
2. e substance that remains in the lter paper
5. e process of changing water vapour back into liquid water
6. e substance that ows through the lter paper
7. A mixture of solute and solvent

70 Exploring Science-6
 1
T

2 3
R E E

4
S

5
C O T

6
F R
7
S T

Science Excursion Communication

B. Plan a visit to a paddy farm

at the end of the paddy
harvesting season to witness
the threshing and winnowing
process. Talk to the farmers
to understand how they
separate grains from chaff.
Take some photos of the
visit. Make a report of this
visit and paste the photos in
your notebook.

Separation of substances 71
 Memory Map

Handpicking Threshing Winnowing Sieving

Decantation Separating funnel

METHODS OF
Liquids SEPARATION OF Solids
COMPONENTS

Insoluble solids Soluble solids

in liquids in liquids

Sedimentation Filtration Evaporation Distillation

and
Decantation

e-Resources
Please visit the link given below or scan the QR code for more resources
on this Chapter:

https://www.megamindpublication.com/s-1-science/b-1-exploring-science-6/c-13/separation-of-substance.html

72 Exploring Science-6