How can use separate components of a mixture without a centrifuge?

Question

I am doing a science fair project and I need some help.

Answer 1

It depends on the mixture. If it's a mixture of solid particles, you may be able to separate the mixture by sifting. Sift with a fine grained sieve, and the smallest particles fall out. Sift with progressively larger sieves to capture progressively larger particles. This will only work if the different types of particles have consistent and different sizes.

If it's a mixture of fluids, you may be able to separate by heating the mixture to the boiling point of the component with the lowest boiling point. You'll need equipment set up to capture the vapor and deliver it to another container. Keep heating the mixture to the progressively higher boiling points of any additional components until only one component remains.

You may also be able to separate a mixture by using a magnet if only one component is magnetic. Or you can dissolve a mixture in a solvent such that one component of the mixture is soluble in it while another component is not. Or pour the mixture into a fluid in which neither component is soluble, but one component floats and the other sinks.

The best approach will depend on the makeup of your mixture, and there are probably other methods not mentioned here.

Answer 2

Some compounds can and other cannot be easily reduced to elements Iron Sulfide is Iron "bonded" with Sulfur (FeS2). Bonded and mixed mean very different things Sodium Chloride (table salt) --- Magnesium Chloride (used in fertilizer bombs) --- Magnesium Carbonate Alloy (Steel) - mixture of metals Suspension (fog) - Contains particles large enough to precipitate Solution (salt water) - homogeneous mixture, one phase only Colloid (milk) - microscopically evenly dispersed throughout I'm not sure what this last question is asking. I believe a paint is a colloid, but I'm not entirely sure. I guess it would depend on what kind of paint. Latex paint may be a suspension, while gloss paint is a colloid. How I'd go aboutseparating different pigments with one of the above 4, I have no idea. (Does the answer under mine say that Sodium and Chlorine yield Sodium bromide?! Really???) .

Answer 3

You can use filters or evaporation depending on what substances are mixed.

Answer 4

You could use chromatography.