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<h2>Separation Techniques</h2>
<p>A <b>separation process or technique</b> is a method that converts a mixture or solution of chemical substances into two or more distinct product mixtures. At least one of results of the separation is enriched in one or more of the source mixture's constituents. In some cases, a separation may fully divide the mixture into pure constituents. Separations exploit differences in chemical properties or <a data-lesson="physical-chemical-properties" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="chemistry-essential-ideas" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/chemistry-essential-ideas/physical-chemical-properties">physical</a> properties (such as size, shape, mass, density, or chemical affinity) between the constituents of a mixture.</p>
<p>Processes and techniques are often classified according to the particular differences they use to achieve separation. If no single difference can be used to accomplish a desired separation, multiple operations can often be combined to achieve the desired end.</p>
<p>With a few exceptions, elements or compounds exist in nature in an impure state. Often these raw <a data-lesson="materials" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="classification-of-matter" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/classification-of-matter/materials">materials</a> must go through a separation before they can be put to productive use, making separation techniques essential for the modern industrial economy. In some cases, these separations require total purification, as in the electrolysis refining of bauxite ore for aluminum metal, but a good example of an incomplete separation technique is oil refining.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_323052" style="width: 640px"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-323052" height="480" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/eb868130-ffea-4318-bec3-4c216336feac" width="640"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Stanlow Oil Refinery, Manchester Ship Canal</p></div>
<p>Crude oil occurs naturally as a mixture of various hydrocarbons and impurities. The refining process splits this mixture into other, more valuable mixtures such as natural gas, gasoline and chemical feedstocks, none of which are pure substances, but each of which must be separated from the raw crude. In both of these cases, a <a data-lesson="radioactive-decay-series" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="nuclear-chemistry" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/nuclear-chemistry/radioactive-decay-series">series</a> of separations is necessary to obtain the desired end products. In the case of oil refining, crude is subjected to a long series of individual distillation steps, each of which produces a different product or intermediate.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"></sup></p>
<p>The purpose of a separation may be <i>analytical</i>, can be used as a lie components in the original mixture without any attempt to save the fractions, or may be <i>preparative</i>, i.e. to "prepare" fractions or samples of the components that can be saved. The separation can be done on a small scale, effectively a laboratory scale for analytical or preparative purposes, or on a large scale, effectively an industrial scale for preparative purposes, or on some intermediate scale.</p>
<p><span class="main_body">Mixtures come in many forms and phases. Most of them can be separated, and as already mentioned, the kind of separation method depends on the kind of mixture it is. Below are some common separation techniques:</span></p>
<h2 class="main_body"><span class="heading_small">Paper Chromatography</span></h2>
<p class="main_body">This method is often used in the food industry. It is used to identify <a data-lesson="hazard-signs" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="chemistry-essential-ideas" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/chemistry-essential-ideas/hazard-signs">chemicals</a> (coloring agents) in foods or inks. For example, if a scientist wants to know how many substances are in a particular blob of ink, paper chromatography can be used.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_323059" style="width: 432px"><img alt="Paper chromatography" class="wp-image-323059" height="524" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/72df7e71-9210-4dd1-91f1-7c07eda0f1ae" width="432"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Paper chromatography. Credit: public domain</p></div>
<p>Paper chromatography is a technique that involves placing a small dot or line of sample solution onto a strip of <i>chromatography paper</i>. The paper is placed in a container with a shallow layer of solvent and sealed. As the solvent rises through the paper, it meets the sample mixture, which starts to travel up the paper with the solvent. This paper is made of cellulose, a polar substance, and the <a data-lesson="compounds-2" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="quantitative-aspects-chemical-change" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/quantitative-aspects-chemical-change/compounds-2">compounds</a> within the mixture travel farther if they are non-polar. More <a data-lesson="polar-molecules" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="bonding-atomic-combinations" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/bonding-atomic-combinations/polar-molecules">polar</a> substances bond with the cellulose paper more quickly, and therefore do not travel as far.</p>
<h2 class="main_body"><span class="heading_small">Filtration</span></h2>
<p class="main_body">This is a more common method of separating an insoluble solid from a liquid. An example of such a mixture is sand and water. Filtration is used in <a data-lesson="chemistry-applications-water-treatment" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="solutions-and-colloids" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/solutions-and-colloids/chemistry-applications-water-treatment">water treatment</a> plants, where water from rivers is filtered to remove solid particles.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_323060" style="width: 1056px"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-323060" height="650" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/35f7fd77-5626-4c7b-b34a-af9224daf551" width="1056"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Diagram of simple filtration: oversize particles in the feed cannot pass through the lattice structure of the filter, while fluid and small particles pass through, becoming filtrate. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. <a class="mw-mmv-license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" rel="noopener" target="_blank">CC BY-SA 3.0</a></p></div>
<p>Filtration is any of various mechanical, physical or biological operations that separate solids from fluids by adding a medium through which only the fluid can pass. The fluid that passes through is called the filtrate. In a school chemistry laboratory, the filtration medium is usually filter paper.</p>
<h2 class="main_body"><span class="heading_small">Evaporation</span></h2>
<p class="main_body">Evaporation is great for separating a mixture (solution) of a soluble solid and a solvent. The process involves heating the solution until the solvent evaporates (turns into gas) leaving behind the solid residue. </p>
<h2 class="main_body"><span class="heading_small">Simple Distillation</span></h2>
<p>Distillation is the process of separating the components or substances from a liquid mixture by selective boiling and condensation. This method is best for separating a liquid from a solution. In a way, the concept is similar to evaporation, but in this case, the vapor is collected by condensation. For example, if you want to separate water from a <a data-lesson="acid-base-reactions-continued-2" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="acid-base-redox-reactions" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/acid-base-redox-reactions/acid-base-reactions-continued-2">salt</a> solution, simple distillation would be great for this.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_323063" style="width: 800px"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-323063" height="514" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/0a2abc97-3b43-489f-adf9-1115a98872b0" width="800"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Typical experimental set-up for (a) a simple distillation, and (b) a fractional distillation. Credit: LibreTexts</p></div>
<h2 class="main_body"><span class="heading_small">Fractional Distillation</span></h2>
<p>Fractional distillation is the separation of a mixture into its component parts, or fractions. Chemical compounds are separated by heating them to a <a data-lesson="conversion-temperature-units" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="chemistry-essential-ideas" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/chemistry-essential-ideas/conversion-temperature-units">temperature</a> at which one or more fractions of the mixture will vaporize. It uses distillation to fractionate.</p>
<p class="main_body">Similar to simple distillation, fractional distillation is best for separating a solution of two miscible liquids. (Miscible liquids are liquids that dissolve in each other). The Fractional method takes advantage of the different <a data-lesson="boiling-points" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="liquids-and-solids" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/liquids-and-solids/boiling-points">boiling points</a> of the two liquids.</p>
<h2>Crystallization</h2>
<p>Crystallization is the (natural or artificial) process by which a solid forms, where the <a data-lesson="chemical-formulas" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="atoms-molecules-ions" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/atoms-molecules-ions/chemical-formulas">atoms</a> or molecules are highly organized into a structure known as a crystal. Some of the ways by which crystals form are precipitating from a solution, freezing, or more rarely deposition directly from a gas. Attributes of the resulting crystal depend largely on factors such as temperature, air pressure, and in the case of liquid crystals, <a data-lesson="chemical-reaction-rates" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="chemical-kinetics" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/chemical-kinetics/chemical-reaction-rates">time</a> of fluid evaporation.</p>
<h2>Recrystallization</h2>
<p>Recrystallization is a technique used to purify chemicals. By dissolving both impurities and a compound in an appropriate solvent, either the desired compound or impurities can be removed from the solution, leaving the other behind.</p>
<h2 class="main_body"><span class="heading_small">Magnetic Separation</span></h2>
<p>Magnetic separation is a process in which magnetically susceptible material is extracted from a mixture using a magnetic force. This separation technique can be useful in mining iron as it is attracted to a magnet.</p>
<p class="main_body"><span class="main_body">Magnetism is ideal for separating mixtures of two solids with one part having magnetic properties. Some <a data-lesson="metals" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="classification-of-matter" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/classification-of-matter/metals">metals</a> like iron, nickel and cobalt have magnetic properties whiles gold, silver and aluminum do not. Magnetic <a data-lesson="elements" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="classification-of-matter" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/classification-of-matter/elements">elements</a> are attracted to a magnet.</span></p>
<h2>Sublimation</h2>
<p>Sublimation is the <a data-lesson="occurrence-preparation-and-properties-of-transition-metals-and-their-compounds" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="transition-metals" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/transition-metals/occurrence-preparation-and-properties-of-transition-metals-and-their-compounds">transition</a> of a substance directly from the solid to the gas phase, without passing through the intermediate liquid phase. Sublimation is a technique used by chemists to purify compounds. A solid is typically placed in a sublimation apparatus and heated under vacuum. Under this reduced pressure, the solid volatilizes and condenses as a purified compound on a cooled <a data-lesson="surface-area-and-reaction-rates" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="energy-and-chemical-reactions" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/energy-and-chemical-reactions/surface-area-and-reaction-rates">surface</a> (cold finger), leaving a non-volatile residue of impurities behind. Once heating ceases and the vacuum is removed, the purified compound may be collected from the cooling surface.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_323064" style="width: 675px"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-323064" height="900" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/dbbff258-2033-4dca-bdf9-5eebc8bc5d4c" width="675"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Dark green crystals of nickelocene, sublimed and freshly deposited. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. <a class="mw-mmv-license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0" rel="noopener" target="_blank">CC BY-SA 4.0</a></p></div>
<h2>Centrifugation</h2>
<p>Centrifugation is a technique which involves the application of centrifugal force to separate particles from a solution according to their size, shape, density, viscosity of the medium and rotor speed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"></sup> This process is used to separate two miscible substances, but also to analyze the hydrodynamic properties of <a href="https://app.ulearngo.com/tutorials/biological-macromolecules/">macromolecules</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"></sup> More-dense components of the mixture migrate away from the axis of the centrifuge(move to the outside), while less-dense components of the mixture migrate towards the axis, i. e., move to the center. Chemists and biologists may increase the effective gravitational force on a test tube so as to more rapidly and completely cause the precipitate (pellet) to gather on the bottom of the tube.</p>
<h2 class="main_body"><span class="heading_small">Separating Funnel</span></h2>
<p class="main_body"><span class="main_body">In this technique, two liquids that do not dissolve very well in each other (immiscible liquids) can be separated by taking advantage of their unequal density. A mixture of oil and water, for example, can be separated by this technique.</span></p>
<h2>Classification of Separation Techniques</h2>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 50%;"><strong>Basis of Separation</strong></td>
<td style="width: 50%;"><strong>Separation Technique</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 50%;">size</td>
<td style="width: 50%;"><strong>filtration</strong><br/>
<strong>dialysis</strong> <em>(In biochemistry, dialysis<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;"> is the process of separating molecules in solution by the difference in their rates of diffusion through a semipermeable membrane</span>)</em><br/>
<strong>size-exclusion chromatography</strong> <em>(a chromatographic method in which molecules in solution are separated by their size, and in some cases molecular weight)</em></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 50%;">mass or density</td>
<td style="width: 50%;"><strong>centrifugation </strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 50%;">change in physical state</td>
<td style="width: 50%;"><strong>distillation</strong><br/>
<strong>sublimation</strong><br/>
<strong>recrystallization</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 50%;">change in chemical state</td>
<td style="width: 50%;"><strong>precipitation </strong><em>(</em>creation of a solid from a solution. When the reaction occurs in a liquid solution, the solid formed is called the 'precipitate'.)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 50%;">partitioning between phases</td>
<td style="width: 50%;"><strong>extraction </strong><em>(using two immiscible phases to separate a solute from one phase into the other)</em><br/>
<strong>chromatography</strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

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Separation Techniques

Chemistry generally explores the substances of which matter is composed, the investigation of their properties and reactions, and the use of such reactions to form new substances. 

Chemistry

Explore the arrangement of elements and learn about materials, mixtures, pure substances, and separation techniques, including chemical formulae and important concepts such as periods in the periodic table and chemical properties of groups.


Separation Techniques

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