๐ฟ
Chapter Introduction & Overview
Have you ever wondered how white sugar crystals are obtained
from tall green sugarcane plants? Or how doctors detect diseases like malaria
using just a few drops of blood? All of this is possible because of the science
of separating mixtures!
๐ก
๐ Why Do We Need to
Separate Mixtures?
- To
get pure substances for laboratory experiments
- To
remove impurities (e.g., purifying water)
- For
industrial processes like making sugar, petroleum refining
- For
medical purposes — separating blood components
- Environmental
applications — treating sewage water
๐
Did You Know?Our kidneys perform separation every day
— they filter waste products from blood and excrete them as urine. Nature is
the best chemist!
๐บ️ Chapter Roadmap
๐งช Types of MixturesHomogeneous
vs Heterogeneous; Solutions, Suspensions, Colloids
๐ ConcentrationMass/mass
%, Mass/volume %, Volume/volume %
๐ฌ Separation MethodsCrystallization,
Distillation, Chromatography, Sublimation
๐ก Tyndall EffectScattering
of light by colloids and suspensions
⚗️
How Can We Classify Mixtures?
Mixtures are broadly classified into two types based
on their uniformity:
Examples: Sugar in water, salt water, vinegar,
aerated drinks (soda), brass alloy
Examples: Sand in water, oil and water, muddy
water, smoke, fog
๐ฆ The Laser Light Test
(Tyndall Effect Test)
When laser light is passed through different mixtures, the
results differ:
|
Mixture |
Laser Path Visible? |
Type |
Settles? |
|
Salt + Water |
❌ Not visible |
Solution (Homogeneous) |
No |
|
Chalk + Water |
✅ Visible (bright) |
Suspension (Heterogeneous) |
Yes |
|
Milk + Water |
✅ Visible (faint) |
Colloid |
No |
๐
๐ Comparing Solutions,
Suspensions, and Colloids
|
Property |
Solution |
Suspension |
Colloid |
|
Nature |
Homogeneous |
Heterogeneous |
Appears homogeneous |
|
Particle Size |
<1 nm |
>1000 nm |
1–1000 nm |
|
Visibility |
Not visible |
Visible (naked eye) |
Not visible (naked eye) |
|
Settles? |
No |
Yes (on standing) |
No |
|
Filtration |
Cannot separate |
Can separate |
Cannot separate by regular filter |
|
Tyndall Effect |
❌ No |
✅ Yes |
✅ Yes |
|
Examples |
Salt solution, copper sulfate solution |
Sand in water, muddy water |
Milk, blood, fog |
๐ง
Solutions & Concentration
A solution is a homogeneous mixture of
a solute (the substance that dissolves) and a solvent (the
substance that dissolves the solute).
๐
๐ Expressing
Concentration — Three Methods
A. ๐ฆ Mass by Mass Percentage
(% m/m or % w/w)
Tells us how many grams of solute are present in 100 grams
of the total solution. Used for solid-in-solid or solid-in-liquid mixtures
(e.g., milk powder, spice mixtures, food labels).
Mass by Mass % = (Mass of Solute / Mass of
Solution) × 100
B. ๐ฉ Mass by Volume
Percentage (% m/v or % w/v)
Tells us how many grams of solute are present in 100 mL of
solution. Used in medicines and laboratories (e.g., 5% glucose IV solution,
0.9% saline drip).
Mass by Volume % = (Mass of Solute in g / Volume
of Solution in mL) × 100
C. ๐ง Volume by Volume
Percentage (% v/v)
Tells us how many mL of solute are present in 100 mL of
solution. Used when two liquids are mixed (e.g., vinegar = 5% v/v acetic acid,
perfumes, cosmetics).
Volume by Volume % = (Volume of Solute in mL /
Volume of Solution in mL) × 100
๐ก️ Solubility of
Substances
๐
Solubility (เคตिเคฒेเคฏเคคा):The
maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in 100 g (or 100 mL) of solvent at a
given temperature. A solution that has dissolved the maximum possible solute is
called asaturated solution (เคธंเคคृเคช्เคค
เคตिเคฒเคฏเคจ).
- Solubility
of solid solutes in liquids generally increases with
temperature
- Solubility
of gases in liquids generally decreases with
temperature (that’s why hot soda loses fizz!)
๐จ⚕️
๐ก
๐ฌ
Separating Homogeneous Mixtures
Homogeneous mixtures look uniform, so separating them
requires special techniques based on the physical properties of
their components.
๐ 5.3.1 Crystallization (เค्เคฐिเคธ्เคเคฒीเคเคฐเคฃ)
Crystallization is the process of forming pure
solid crystals from a saturated solution by changing temperature. It is used
for purification of solids and separation of mixtures.
๐
Principle:When a hot saturated solution is cooled,
its solubility decreases. The excess solute crystallises out as pure crystals,
leaving impurities in the solution.
๐งช Steps to Grow Copper
Sulfate Crystals:
- Add
copper sulfate to 25 mL water with a drop of dilute H₂SO₄; heat gently in
a water bath
- Keep
adding copper sulfate until the solution is saturated (no more dissolves)
- Filter
the hot saturated solution to remove insoluble impurities
- Allow
the filtrate to cool slowly without disturbing
- Large,
shiny, blue crystals of copper sulfate form as it cools
- Filter,
rinse with cold water, and dry on a watch glass
⚠️
๐
Crystals in Everyday Life!Rock salt (sendha namak),
candy sugar (mishri — เคฎिเคถ्เคฐी),
snowflakes, and frost on windows are all crystals! Even the Mawsmai Cave in
Cherrapunji (Sohra), Meghalaya, has spectacular natural crystal formations.
๐ฎ๐ณ
๐ก️ 5.3.2 Distillation (เคเคธเคตเคจ)
Distillation separates miscible liquids or a
liquid from a solution with dissolved solids, using differences in boiling
points.
๐
Principle:The liquid with the lower boiling point
vaporises first. Vapours pass through a condenser where they cool and convert
back to liquid (distillate), which is collected in a separate flask.
Used when: Difference in boiling points ≥ 25°C
|
Substance |
Boiling Point |
|
Water |
100°C |
|
Acetone |
56°C |
|
Alcohol (ethanol) |
78°C |
|
Chloroform |
61°C |
|
Benzene |
80°C |
๐ง Apparatus: Distillation
Set-Up
- Distillation
flask — holds the mixture (e.g., acetone + water)
- Thermometer —
measures temperature of vapours
- Water
condenser — cools the vapours (water flows in from bottom, out
from top)
- Conical
flask — collects the distillate (purified liquid)
๐ธ
๐ข️
๐จ 5.3.3 Paper
Chromatography (เคाเคเค़
เคตเคฐ्เคฃเคฒेเคเคจ)
Paper chromatography separates components of a
mixture based on differences in how fast they move up a paper when carried by a
solvent.
๐
Principle:Different substances travel at different
speeds through the paper with the solvent. Substances that interact more with
the paper move slowly; those attracted more to the solvent move faster.
๐งช Steps for Paper
Chromatography:
- Take
a strip of chromatographic (or filter) paper, draw a horizontal pencil
line 2 cm from the bottom
- Place
a spot of black ink (or other mixture) at the centre of the pencil line
- Place
the strip vertically in a beaker/gas jar with a thin layer of water — the
water level must be BELOW the ink spot
- Watch
as water rises through the paper — the ink separates into different
coloured bands!
⚠️
๐
Word Origin!The word “chromatography” comes from
Greek: chroma (colour) + graphein (to write)
= “writing with colour”! It was first used to separate coloured plant pigments
by Russian botanist Mikhail Tsvet in 1900.
๐ฌ Applications of Paper
Chromatography:
- Detecting
ink components (e.g., black ink separates into blue, red, yellow bands)
- Separating
pigments in spinach leaves
- Separating
pigments from flower petals
- Forensic
science — ink analysis on documents
- Food
colour analysis
๐งฒ
Separating Heterogeneous Mixtures
Heterogeneous mixtures have different components that can
often be separated using their physical differences like
density, size, or state change.
⚗️ 5.4.1 Separating Funnel —
Immiscible Liquids
Immiscible liquids (เค
เคฎिเคถ्เคฐเคฃीเคฏ เคฆ्เคฐเคต)
do not mix and form separate layers. They are separated using a separating
funnel.
๐
Principle:Immiscible liquids of different densities
form separate layers. The denser liquid sinks to the bottom; the less dense
liquid floats on top. Opening the stopcock drains the lower layer first.
๐ก Mustard Oil + WaterOil
(less dense) forms upper layer. Water (more dense) forms lower layer. Open
stopcock → drain water first → close → drain oil separately.
๐ Oil + Water in OceanOil
spills float on seawater because oil is less dense than water. Same principle —
density difference causes layer formation.
๐ฅ 5.4.2 Sublimation (เคเคฐ्เคง्เคตเคชाเคคเคจ)
Sublimation is when a solid directly changes
into vapour (without becoming a liquid first) upon heating. On cooling, the
vapour changes directly back to solid — this is called deposition.
๐
Sublimable substances:Camphor (เคเคชूเคฐ), naphthalene, ammonium
chloride, iodine, dry ice (solid CO₂). These substances can be separated from
non-sublimable ones like sand, salt, etc.
๐งช Separating Camphor from
Sand:
- Take
the camphor + sand mixture in a china dish on a tripod stand
- Cover
with an inverted glass funnel (nozzle plugged with cotton)
- Heat
gently — camphor sublimes and vapours rise
- Camphor
deposits as white solid on the inner walls of the funnel
- Sand
remains behind in the china dish
๐ 5.4.3 Suspensions &
How to Separate Them
๐
Suspension (เคจिเคฒंเคฌเคจ):A
heterogeneous mixture where solid particles (size >1000 nm) remain suspended
in a liquid medium. Particles are visible to the naked eye and settle on
standing.
For very fine suspended particles that don’t settle easily,
two advanced methods are used:
๐ A. Centrifugation (เค
เคชเคेंเคฆ्เคฐเคฃ)
- The
mixture is spun at high speed in a centrifuge machine
- Centrifugal
force (outward force) pushes heavier particles to the bottom of the tube
- Lighter
liquid remains at the top
- Applications: Separating
blood components (plasma, RBCs, platelets), dairy industry (separating
cream from milk), chemical industries
๐
The Paperfuge — Innovation!Scientists designed a
hand-powered centrifuge called a paperfuge using just
cardboard and string — inspired by a spinning toy! It can spin blood samples
fast enough to diagnose malaria and anaemia in remote areas without
electricity. Science saves lives!
๐ชจ B. Coagulation (เคธ्เคंเคฆเคจ)
- A
coagulant (like powdered alum / เคซिเคเคเคฐी)
is added to muddy water
- Alum
causes fine suspended particles to clump together (coagulate)
- Larger
clumps settle by gravity (sedimentation)
- Clear
water is separated by decantation or filtration
- Everyday
example: Making paneer — lemon juice/vinegar coagulates milk
proteins!
๐ Alloys — A Special Case
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or
more metals (or a metal and non-metal). Physical methods cannot
separate alloy components.
|
Alloy |
Components |
Uses |
|
Brass (เคชीเคคเคฒ) |
~80% Copper + ~20% Zinc |
Utensils, musical instruments |
|
Bronze (เคांเคธा) |
~80% Copper + ~20% Tin |
Statues, coins, bells |
|
Stainless Steel |
Iron + Carbon + Chromium + Nickel + Molybdenum |
Cutlery, surgical instruments |
✨
Colloids & the Tyndall Effect
๐ซ️ What is a Colloid?
A colloid is a mixture where particles of
the dispersed phase (1–1000 nm) are evenly distributed
throughout the dispersion medium. Colloid particles don’t settle
and are not visible to the naked eye, but they can scatter light!
๐ฅ Everyday ColloidsMilk,
blood, fog, smoke, ice cream, tomato sauce, butter, cold cream, body lotion,
vanishing cream
๐ก Tyndall Effect (เคिंเคกเคฒ เคช्เคฐเคญाเคต)
๐
Tyndall Effect:The scattering of a light beam by
particles in a colloid or suspension, making the path of light visible. It does
NOT occur in true solutions (particles too small to scatter light). Named after
scientistJohn Tyndall.
๐ฆ Examples of Tyndall
Effect:
- Sunbeams
visible through forest gaps (dust particles in air scatter light)
- Headlights
visible in fog
- Floodlights
in a sports stadium appear as visible beams
- Light
entering a dark room through a small hole
- Laser
passed through milk (visible beam) vs. salt solution (no visible beam)
๐งด Emulsions — Special
Colloids
When both the dispersed phase and dispersion medium are
liquids, the colloid is called an emulsion.
๐ก
๐ฉธ Blood — A Remarkable
Colloid
Blood is a colloid! Blood cells (dispersed phase) are
suspended in plasma (dispersion medium). That’s why blood doesn’t settle in
vessels — unlike a suspension. Centrifugation separates blood into: Plasma
(top) → Platelets + WBCs (middle) → RBCs (bottom).
❤️
๐
Quick Revision Summary
Homogeneous vs HeterogeneousUniform composition =
Homogeneous (solution); Non-uniform = Heterogeneous
Solution, Colloid, SuspensionParticle size: Solution
<1nm, Colloid 1–1000nm, Suspension >1000nm
Concentration Formulae% m/m, % m/v, % v/v — all =
(part/total) × 100
CrystallizationCool hot saturated solution → excess
solute forms crystals. Used for purification.
DistillationSeparate miscible liquids with boiling
point difference ≥ 25°C. Lower BP liquid vaporises first.
Paper ChromatographySeparates by rate of movement on
paper; spot must be above solvent level.
Separating FunnelSeparates immiscible liquids based
on density. Denser liquid sinks to bottom.
SublimationSolid → Vapour (no liquid stage). Camphor,
naphthalene, dry ice sublimate.
CentrifugationHigh-speed spinning separates heavier
particles from lighter liquid in a suspension.
CoagulationAlum (fitkari) clumps fine particles →
settle by gravity. Used in water purification.
Tyndall EffectScattering of light by
colloid/suspension particles. NOT shown by solutions.
AlloysHomogeneous metal mixtures (brass, bronze,
steel). Cannot be separated by physical methods.
๐
Important Exam Questions
Q1. What is the difference between a homogeneous and a
heterogeneous mixture? Give two examples of each. (CBSE Type / 3 Marks)
Ans: A homogeneous mixture has uniform
composition throughout — you cannot see separate components. Examples: salt
solution, vinegar. A heterogeneous mixture has non-uniform composition —
components are visibly different. Examples: muddy water, sand in water.
Q2. If 10 g of salt is dissolved in 90 g of water,
calculate the mass by mass percentage (% m/m) of the solution. (CBSE Type / 2
Marks)
Q3. What is the Tyndall Effect? Why does a solution not
show the Tyndall Effect but a colloid does? (CBSE Type / 3 Marks)
Ans: The Tyndall Effect is the scattering of a
beam of light by particles in a colloid or suspension, making the light path
visible. In a solution, particles are extremely small (less than 1 nm) and
cannot scatter light. In a colloid, particles are larger (1–1000 nm) and can
scatter the light beam, making it visible from the side.
Q4. Explain the process of distillation with a labelled
diagram. Under what conditions is it preferred over simple evaporation? (CBSE
Type / 5 Marks)
Q5. How are suspensions different from colloids? How can
you distinguish between the two using a simple experiment? (CBSE Type / 3
Marks)
Ans: Suspensions have particle size greater than
1000 nm — particles are visible, settle on standing, and can be separated by
filtration. Colloids have particle size 1–1000 nm — particles are not visible,
do not settle, and cannot be separated by normal filtration. Distinguishing
experiment: Shine a laser through both — both show the Tyndall Effect.
But leave them undisturbed for some time — suspension settles at the bottom
while colloid remains stable (does not settle).
Q6. State any three differences between evaporation and
distillation. (CBSE Type / 3 Marks)
Ans: (1) In evaporation, the solvent is lost; in
distillation, the solvent is recovered as distillate. (2) Evaporation is
suitable for getting solute from solution; distillation is used to get pure
solvent or to separate two miscible liquids. (3) Evaporation is a simpler
process done in an open vessel; distillation requires a closed apparatus with a
condenser.