Question

How is a mixture of common salt, oil and water separated? You can use a combination of different methods.

Answer 1

The mixture of common salt, oil and water are taken in a beaker. The salt dissolves in water. Allow it to stand for a few minutes. The mixture of two immiscible liquids is separated by a separating funnel. The oil floats on top. The water can carefully be separated by opening the stopcock in the separating funnel. The oil is left behind in the separating funnel.

The saltwater is heated slowly, in a distillation flask with a water condenser. The pure water vapour passes through the inner tube of the condenser.

The vapours on cooling condense into pure water and are collected in a receiver. The salt is left behind in the flask as a residue.