Chemistry · Science General

Separation Techniques

813 Questions

Separation techniques involve physical methods to isolate mixtures, including distillation, filtration, and crystallization. Competitive exams frequently test these foundational concepts. Review the exact processes to enhance problem solving speed.

Distillation and evaporationCrystallization processFiltration methodsSeparating dissolved solidsChromatography and mass techniques

Separation Techniques Questions

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation


There is a mixture of X, Y and Z. If the mixture of X and Y can be separated by magnetic separation and the mixture of Y and Z can be separated by distillation.
The different states of X, Y and Z are respectively -

  1. Solid, solid, liquid.

  2. Solid, liquid, solid.

  3. All are liquids.

  4. All are solids.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Since X, Y can be separated by magnetic separation so X, Y are solids. 

Y, Z can be separated by distillation method therefore, Y, Z must be solid liquid mixture. 
Already we know Y is a solid hence, Z is a liquid.

Hence, option (A) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

In a mixture of X and Y, X can be separated from Y by magnetic separation.

Which of the following pairs will form X and Y?

  1. Sand, sawdust.

  2. Iron, sulphur.

  3. Iodine, sand.

  4. Gun powder and sawdust.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

X, Y are two solids making a mixture. 

One is component is magnetic, whereas, other is non-magnetic. 
Hence, the mixture must be of iron and sulphur.

Therefore, option (B) will be the correct answer.

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

Napthalene and iron filings can be separated by the method of

  1. Solvent extraction

  2. Sublimation

  3. Magnetic separation

  4. Filtration
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A,B,C Correct answer
Explanation

Napthalene can be dissolved in a solvent like benzene and filtered from iron filings. On evaporating the solution napthalene can be obtained back. This method is solvent extraction.
Iron filings can be attracted towards magnet and separated from napthalene. Therefore, method can be used magnetic separation.
Napthalene has the property of sublimation hence on heating napthalene sublimes and gets separated from iron filings by the method of sublimation.

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

Solvent extraction is a method for separating a substance from a solution or mixture by using a solvent in which it is more soluble. 

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Solvent extraction is a method used for separating a substance from one or more by using a solvent.

In most cases, the substance to be extracted, which may be a solid, a liquid or a gas, is dissolved in a liquid, along with other substances, and a liquid solvent is used for the extraction this is sometimes called liquid-liquid extraction. 

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

Name a technique used to separate :
Iron and sulphur

  1. filtration

  2. distillation

  3. magnetic

  4. chromatography
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Electrical and Magnetic separation: Electrolytes and non electrolytes, magnetic and non magnetic substances can be separated by this technique of separation using either electrical field or magnetic field.
Magnet can be used to separate iron from sulphur.

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

Threshing is a method of separation used to separate:

  1. two useful substances of the same size

  2. harmful substances from the useful ones

  3. the useful substance from the non-useful one

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A farmer uses the method of threshing to separate the grain from the stalks. The stalks are beaten to separate the grain seeds.

Option (C) is correct.

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

A few coloured glass pieces that are big in size are mixed with sugar. The easiest way to separate them is:

  1. heat the mixture

  2. add the mixture to water

  3. hand pick the glass pieces

  4. handpick the sugar particles
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Since the size of glass particles is bigger than sugar, so we can easily get rid of those by hand picking.

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

A very large quantity of mixture contains tiny particles of three different substances X, Y, and Z. They are of the same size, cubical in shape and yellow in colour. X particles are very heavy, insoluble, non-magnetic and contribute 50% of the mixture. Y particles are very light, insoluble, non-magnetic and contribute 40% of the mixture. And Z particles are actually iron pieces. Which of the following methods can separate X, Y, and Z in the fastest manner?

  1. Winnowing - Magnetic separation

  2. Magnetic separation-Winnowing

  3. Sieving-Magnetic separation - Filtration

  4. Handpicking - Sublimation- Sieving
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

By magnetic separation- It is used to remove particle Z because Z is iron.

Winnowing-it helps to separate the particle have different weight 
It will help to separate $XYZ$

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

Threshing is a method of separation used to separate:

  1. two useful substances of the same size

  2. harmful substances from the useful ones

  3. the useful substance from the non-useful one

  4. none of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of grain from the husks and straw to which it is attached. 

It is the step in grain preparation after reaping and before winnowing which separates the grain from the chaff.

Hence, option C is correct.

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

Winnowing is used for separation of:

  1. homogeneous solid-solid mixtures

  2. homogeneous solid-liquid mixtures

  3. heterogeneous solid-liquid mixtures

  4. heterogeneous solid-solid mixtures
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Winnowing is a farming method developed by ancient people for separating grain from the chaff. It is also used to remove weevils or other pests from stored grain. Threshing, which is the loosening of grain or seeds from the husks and straw, comes before winnowing. It is used for heterogeneous solid-solid mixtures.

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

Wheat flour can be separated from the wheat bran by:

  1. hand picking

  2. sieving

  3. winnowing

  4. filtration
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Wheat flour can be separated from wheat bran by sieving. Bran is the hard outer layer of cereal grain.
Sieve analysis is a method of determining the particle size distribution of material. 
The process separates fine particles from more coarse particles by passing the material through a number of sieves of different mesh sizes.

Hence, option B is correct.
Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

Winnowing is useful only when:

  1. two solids have different melting points

  2. two solids have different boiling points

  3. two solids have different magnetic properties

  4. two solids have different weights
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

winnowing is used to separated heavier and lighter components of a mixture by wind or by blowing air.This process is done by the farmers to separated lighter husk particles from heavier grain particles.

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

A mixture contains two solids A and B. Solid A is light in weight while solid B is very heavy. Their sizes are almost same. Here, A is the unwanted component. To get pure solid B, which separation method would you suggest?

  1. Sieving

  2. Winnowing

  3. Magnetic separation

  4. Filtration
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Winnowing is a farming method developed by ancient people for separating grain from chaff. It is also used to remove weevils or other pests from stored grain. Threshing, which is the loosening of grain or seeds from the husks and straw, comes before winnowing. It is used for heterogeneous solid-solid mixtures.

Multiple choice chemistry mix and separate dry methods of separation process of separating components of a mixture method of separation

Sieving can be used only when the components of the mixture have:

  1. different sizes

  2. different melting points

  3. different boiling points

  4. different specific gravities
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Sieving can be used only when the components of the mixture are of different sizes.

The mixture of the component is added in the sieve. Sieve consists of large number of pores. The particle of small size get easily pass through these pores but the components with large particle size are not able to pass through these pores.
This way sieving separate components of a mixture of different sizes.

Hence, option D is correct.