Question

Oil can be separated from water using

• A. Filtration
• B. Decantation
• C. Both sedimentation and filtration
• D. Sedimentation

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Decantation

Decantation is the process of separation of liquid from solid and other immiscible (non-mixing) liquids, by removing the lighter liquid layer at the top from the layer of denser solid or liquid below it. The process can be carried out by tilting the mixture after pouring out the top layer. This process can also be used to separate two liquids that do not mix with each other for e.g., oil and water. When we leave the mixture of oil and water, two separate layers are formed, with denser water at the bottom and oil, being lighter, at the top. We can remove the oil layer from the top by pouring it into another vessel, which leaves us with the water layer at the bottom.