Mapua University

Senior High School

Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics

Experiment 1:
Matter: Classification and Separation Techniques
Magliquian, Ethan Rae T. January 10, 2018
Mendoza, Abraham M.
Ong, Christian Gabriel A.
Ortega, Azriel Matthew O.
Palma, Katherine B.
Prof. Ardvin Kester S. Ong, RCT, RCH Group 5 – CHM01 – G111

ABSTRACT
Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass. Based on its chemical configuration and
structure, matter can be classified as either a pure substance or a mixture. A pure substance is
defined as a substance that is made of only one type of atom or molecule. It has a definite and
constant composition. On the other hand, mixture is a result of two or more substances that do not
react in chemical means, combine in which the pure substances retain their identities. The
components of a mixture may be separated by physical means, such as filtration or chemically
based on its ratio and physical properties. In able to isolate pure substances, separating mixtures is
important. A separation process is a method used to convert a mixture into two or more distinctive
substances (Wilson, Adlard, Cooke, 2000). The objective of the laboratory experiment is to apply
the techniques used to separate the components of a mixture. - Decantation, Filtration, Evaporation,
Distillation, Adsorption, and Sublimation. It was concluded that due to the difference in physical
and chemical properties of mixtures, it is possible to separate a solution into its original components
whether it is by chemical or physical means.
- Katherine B. Palma
Keywords: matter, mass, mixture, pure substance, filtration, separation process, decantation, filtration, evaporation,
distillation, adsorption
the same appearance and composition
Introduction
throughout or heterogeneous that does not
Matter is a substance that has inertia and blend smoothly throughout.
occupies physical space. According to
modern physics, it consists of several types of The type of mixture will determine the type of
particles, each with mass and size. It has two separation technique to apply. A lot of
classifications, a pure substance or a mixture. substances are needed in their pure form.
A pure substance has distinct properties, its Some of the compounds and elements are not
composition does not vary from sample to found in their pure form but can be found in
sample. A pure substance can be an element mixtures. Separation process is essential in
or a compound. An element is composed of chemistry and the modern industry.
only one kind of atom while a compound is
made up of two or more atoms. Another There are six types of separation techniques
classification of matter is mixture it is a performed in this lab experiment –
combination of two or more pure substances. Decantation, Filtration, Evaporation,
It can be classified as homogenous, which has Distillation, Adsorption, and Sublimation.

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Decantation is the process of separating a
heterogeneous mixture by tilting the mixture
and pouring out the top layer leaving large
particles behind. This process could also be
used to separate liquids that do not mix with
each other. Filtration is one of the methods
used in separating a solid from a liquid,
allowing the liquid to pass through a filter
paper but not the solid particles. Evaporation
is done by boiling off the water that escapes
as a vapour forming the residue. Distillation is
a procedure by which two liquids with
different boiling points can be separated. It
can be used effectively to separate liquids that
have atleast 500 differences in their boiling
points. Purified compounds will boil and then
turn into vapour. By using two different
boiling points, you can separate the mixture.
In the process of Adsorption, an adsorbent is
used to adsorb another substance. It is
commonly used in removing moisture to
control humidity, while Sublimation is the
transition from solid phase to gas phase with
no intermediate liquid phase. It occurs at
temperatures and pressures below what is
called the "triple point" of the substance.
The objective of this laboratory experiment is
to be able to use the equipment and laboratory
apparatuses to separate the components of a
mixture as well as apply the suitable
technique for a variety of properties in
mixtures.
-Abraham M. Mendoza
Experimental Section
Equipment and Glassware
150-mL beaker, 400-mL beaker, 100-mL
graduated cylinder, bunsen burner, iron stand,
wire gauze, glass stirring rod, filter paper,
funnel and funnel support.
Methodology
Decantation
100-mL of distilled water was measured and
was placed in a 150-mL beaker. 1.0 gram of
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sand was poured into the water. When the
particles of sand have already settled, the
liquid was poured into another beaker without
disturbing the settled solid at the bottom,
leaving the large particles in the container.
Observations and data were gathered. The
same steps were repeated with 1.0 gram of
powdered chalk. The particles of chalk were
left to settle and the liquid was poured into
another beaker. Observations and data were
gathered.
Filtration and Evaporation
In a 150-mL beaker, 1.0 gram of sodium
chloride (NaCl) and I.0 gram of powdered
chalk were mixed. 25-mL of distilled water
was added in the mixture. The mixture was
stirred for a minute. Using a 150-mL beaker
as the container for the filtrate, the mixture
was filtered. The color of the filtrate was
observed and data was recorded, it was then
transferred unto an evaporating dish. The
filtrate was then evaporated until it was dry.
Distillation
The Distillation set-up was prepared. 50-mL
of water was placed in a 150-mL beaker. 1.0
gram of blue dye was added and mixed in the
water. The color of the solution was observed
and data was gathered. The solution was
poured into the distilling flask and was heated
until boiling. When about 10-mL of the
distillate has been collected, a 150-mL beaker
was used as the container of the distillate. The
color of the distillate was observed and data
was gathered. The steps were repeated but
using 1-mL of concentrated ammonium
hydroxide (NH4 OH). To determine whether
the distillate is a base or an acid, 3 drops of
phenolphthalein was added to the distillate.
The color was observed and data was
recorded.
Adsorption
40-mL of distilled water was placed in a 150-
mL beaker. 4 grams of sugar was placed unto
the beaker and was stirred thoroughly to
dissolve the sugar. The color of the mixture
CHM01 - AKSOng
was observed and data was recorded. 2 grams
of powdered charcoal was added and was
combined with the mixture. The mixture was
placed into a bunsen burner and was heated
until it boiled. With continuous stirring, it
continued to boil for five minutes. It was
removed from the burner and was left to cool
down. It was filtered and the color of the
filtrate was observed and data was recorded.
Sublimation
350-mL of tap water was boiled inside a 400-
mL beaker. In a 150-mL beaker, 2.0 grams of
powdered naphthalene and 0.5 grams of blue
dye were mixed. In another 400-mL beaker, it
was half-filled with ice. The beaker
containing the mixture of naphthalene and
blue dye was placed on water through a
shallow dish. The beaker containing the ice
was placed on top of the beaker with the
mixture. The boiling water was poured on the
shallow dish. It was left for 5 minutes. The
bottom of the beaker containing the ice was
observed and data was recorded.
-Christian Gabriel A. Ong
Results and Discussion
The lab experiment is showing some of the
techniques used to separate the components of
a mixture.
The first part was separating a liquid from a
solid using decantation. Table 1 shows the
observations seen from the experiment.
Table 1. Results obtained from observing the
process of decantation
Sand and Water Clear
Powdered Chalk and Cloud white
Water
In the observation on Table 1, the components
of the mixture were separated by the force of
gravity. The liquid is transferred from a
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beaker to another container separating the
large particles from the liquid substance. The
sand is insoluble in water and because some
of the smaller particles are less dense than the
water, it did not settle at the bottom.
As for the powdered chalk, some of its solid
substance dissolved in the water because of
its fineness and the non-solubility of chalk
(CaCO3) in water. The chalk dissolved and a
solution was formed.
The next part of the experiment was
separating a mixture using Filtration and
Evaporation. Table 2 shows the observations
seen from the experiment.
Table 2. Results obtained from observing the
process of filtration and evaporation.
Color of the mixture White
Color of the filtrate Clear
Color of the residue White
In the observation on Table 2, Powdered
chalk and sodium chloride or salt (NaCl) were
diluted in distilled water. The researchers
were able to separate the mixture by the
process of filtration. Using a filter paper, the
mixture was filtered. The solute was
separated from the solvent.
The process of evaporation was conducted to
vaporize the liquid leaving the residue on the
evaporating dish. This was possible since the
three substances all have different boiling
points.
The next part of the experiment was
separating a mixture using the process of
distillation. Table 3 shows the observations
seen from the experiment
Table 3. Results obtained from observing the
process of distillation
Color of the first solution Blue
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Color of the first Light Blue
distillate
Color of the second solution White
Color of the second distillate Yellow
Color of the second distillate Red-Violet
after adding phenolphthalein
In the observation on Table 3, there were two
solutions, the blue dye and the ammonium
hydroxide (NH4OH). These were separated by
the process of distillation. The two solutions
were heated up to their boiling point in order
for the liquid substance to evaporate. Then it
was condensed that changed its gas phase into
liquid phase. It was poured unto a beaker,
leaving behind the other substances.
The next part of the experiment was
separating the components of a mixture by the
process of adsorption. Table 4 shows the
observations seen from the experiment.
Table 4. Results obtained from observing the
process of adsorption
Color of the mixture Yellow - orange
Color of the filtrate Clear
In the observation on Table 4, Brown sugar
was mixed and diluted in distilled water. The
color of the mixture turned into yellow-
orange. Powdered charcoal was added and
mixed in the mixture. The adsorbent, which
is, the charcoal adsorbed the liquid and the
sugar. Activated charcoal can also be used to
increase the surface area available for
adsorption or chemical reactions. The filtrate
is clear.
The last part of the experiment was separating
a mixture using the process of sublimation. In
the observation, the solid substances,
naphthalene and blue dye sublimed. This
made the solid substances turn into a gas
phase producing moisture in the container.
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This is another way of separating liquid and
solid particles.
-Azriel Matthew O. Ortega
Conclusion
In this laboratory experiment, six techniques
were used to separate mixtures –Decantation,
Filtration, Evaporation, Distillation,
Adsorption, and Sublimation. Since there are
variations of ratios in the components of
every mixture, we conclude that the type of
technique to be applied whether physical or
chemical, are based on differences in
properties. The separation of the components
of mixture is based upon the fact that every
component of the mixture has a variety of
physical properties.
The difference in physical and chemical
properties of mixtures does play a very
important role in this laboratory experiment.
Applying the techniques used to separate the
components of mixture, the team had learn
various effects which best describes the
results of Decantation, Filtration,
Evaporation, Distillation, Adsorption and
Sublimation.
For Decantation, we had produce a clean
decant for a both sand and chalk in salty
water solution. The separation of the solid
from the liquid leaving the undissolved solid
forming a residue is the process attributed to
this activity.
For Evaporation, boiling a mixture of
charcoal powder and water produces a
blackish color solution. The gas emitted by
the process of boiling is a good example of
evaporation where liquid is transformed into
its gaseous state. For Filtering, using filter
paper pouring the boiled charcoal solution
separates the insoluble charcoal solids from
the liquid mixture. The filtration process
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turns back the blackish water solution into Wilson, Ian., Adlard, Edward.,Cooke,
almost its original state which is clear water Michael. Encyclopedia of Separation
state. Science, San Diego, Academic Press, 2000

For Distillation, applying heat at the bottom Mustafa, Sana. Separation Techniques,
and cold water at the top resulted to vapours FUAAST, Karachi, Pakistan
eventually turning into a blue solution from
Riekkola, Marja-Liisa., Hartonen, Kari.
the powder blue dye. The heating of the Water as the First Choice Green Solvent,
solution containing soluble solids to form University of Helsinki, 2017
vapours of the liquid and then cooling the
vapours to get the liquid back is a clear Calderon, Edna., Santos, Nanette. Chemistry
example of distillation. Adding of Laboratory Manual – Part 1, 2016
phenolphthalein to removes the ammonium
hydroxide from the mixture resulted to a red-
violet solution. This demonstrates that by
distillation can be used to remove ammonium
hydroxide from the mixture.

For Adsorption, mixture of sugar and water

resulted into a yellow orange mixture
adsorbing the properties sugar into water.
Another good example is the charcoal
exercise where liquid and moisture are both
adsorb because of its huge surface area and
carbon atoms which allows it easily to absorb
moistures.

For Sublimation, the naphthalene sublime

combined with moisture resulted into
formation of ice like substance. Applying
heat into the substance results to directly
transform solid into gas without passing
through the liquid state.

Ethan Rae T. Magliquian

References:
Schweitzer, Philip. Handbook of Separation
Techniques for Chemical Engineers, Mc-
Graw Hill, 1997

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