Question

Which separation technique will you apply for the separation of the following mixture?

Tea leaves from tea

Answer 1

The separation technique applied for the separation of tea leaves from tea is filtration.

Filtration: The process of separating the insoluble particles of a mixture (tea leaves here) from the liquid part of the mixture (tea) by using filter paper.

For separating tea leaves from tea, a strainer is used instead of a filter paper which serves the same purpose of separating the solids in the mixture based on their size.

• Example: Tea leaves from tea, filtration of precipitates in various chemical reactions.

Principle involved in the separation of mixture:

• When passed through the filter paper, insoluble tea leaves being larger in size than the pores in the strainer do not pass through it whereas the liquid part of the mixture can easily pass through it.