Question

Four mixtures are given below.

(i) Kidney beans and chickpeas

(ii) Pulses and rice

(iii) Rice flakes and corn

(iv) Potato wafers and biscuits

Which of these can be separated by the method of winnowing?

• A. (i) and (ii)
• B. (ii) and (iii)
• C. (i) and (iii)
• D. (iii) and (iv)

Answer 1

The correct option is D

(iii) and (iv)

An explanation for the correct answer;

Option D (iii) and (iv)

1. The winnowing is used to separate heavier and lighter components of a mixture by wind or by blowing air.
2. In the mixture of rice flakes and corn, rice flakes are lighter components than corn and in the mixture of potato wafers and biscuits, potato wafers are lighter components than biscuits.
3. Thus by using the method of winnowing, rice flakes and corn, potato wafers, and biscuits can be separated since the weight of the two components of the mixtures are different.
4. Hence option D is correct.

An explanation for the incorrect answers;

Option A (i) and (ii)

1. In the mixture of kidney beans and chickpeas and the mixture of Pulses and rice, both the components are heavier.
2. Therefore by using the method of winnowing ( which is used to separate heavier and lighter components of a mixture by wind) we can't separate these mixtures.
3. Hence option A is incorrect.

Option B (ii) and (iii)

1. We can separate rice flakes, and corn by using the method of winnowing, since the weight of the two components is different.
2. However, we can't separate the mixture of pulses and rice since both the components are heavier.
3. Hence option B is incorrect.

Option C (i) and (iii)

1. By using the method of winnowing, rice flakes, and corn can be separated since the weight of the two components is different.
2. However, we can't separate the mixture of kidney beans and chickpeas since both the components are heavier.
3. Hence option C is incorrect.

Therefore, the method of winnowing is used to separate heavier and lighter components of a mixture by wind or by blowing air, so the mixture of rice flakes and corn, and the mixture of potato wafers, and biscuits can be separated since the weight of the two components of the mixtures are different. Hence option D (iii) and (iv) is correct.