Question

How will you separate a mixture of kerosene, water, sand and salt?

Answer 1

To separate kerosene, water, sand, and salt:

• First of all we know that salt will dissolve in water, kerosene will form an upper layer in water, and on standing sand will settle down at the bottom.
• Kerosene can be separated by taking a separating funnel.
• The liquid with lower density forms the upper layer (kerosene) and the liquid with higher density form the lower layer, when the stopper is opened the lower layer can be collected and the upper layer remains within the funnel. Thus kerosene can be separated from water using a separating funnel.
• Sand particles settle down at the bottom collected by filtration method, as sand particles can not pass through the filter paper.
• Dissolved salt can be taken by the evaporation method, by heating the mixture and allowing it to evaporate the water.