Question

Suggest separation technique(s) one would need to employ to separate the given mixture - Common salt, water and sand.

Answer 1

Separation of sand from the solution of salt and water :

Step 1: Decantation

1. Common salt is soluble in water but sand is not.
2. The decantation (or filtration) technique is used to separate sand from the common salt solution in water.
3. It is a technique that separates two immiscible liquids or suspensions.
4. As a result of the filtration process, sand will be separated as an insoluble residue and the filtrate will be a common salt solution in water.

Step 2: Evaporation

1. Evaporation is a process of liquid forming vapours at a particular temperature.
2. To remove common salt from water, the evaporation technique is used.
3. Water evaporates, on heating up to its boiling point.
4. As water is completely evaporated, there is only salt is left as residue

Thus, the suspension of sand, salt, and water are separated through the technique of decantation and evaporation.