Separation of salt and sand

Notes:

Not all chemistry involves chemical reactions. As many of the substances of nature occur in mixtures it is important to be able to separate mixtures into their component parts. This branch of chemistry separates mixtures and purifies the components for further use or study.

Instructions:

1. Measure out 100cm³ water into a 250cm³ beaker
2. Heat the water on a tripod and gauze until just boiling and turn off the bunsen burner.
3. Add the mixture of salt and sand one spatula at a time stirring throughout.
4. When all of the mixture has been added, allow to cool until the beaker can be handled carefully (by the rim).
5. Filter the mixture into a 250cm³ conical flask, pour a little (10cm³⁾ water throught the filter to "wash" the sand collected in the filter paper.
6. Pour the filtrate into an evaporating basin and allow the water to evaporate.

Experimental write up:

Key words

• Filter
• Filtrate
• Separate
• Evaporate