University of Asia and the

Pacific SY 2015-16

Chemistry Laboratory Activity 2

Name: _______________________________________
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Schedule:

Date: __________________________________

Mixtures and Separation Techniques

Introduction
Matter can be classified according to composition as pure substance and mixture.
Pure substances can be divided into elements and compounds while mixtures are
either homogenous or heterogeneous. Solutions are homogeneous mixtures of two
substances. Solubility is a property that measures the amount of matter (solute)
that can be dissolved in a given amount of solvent. There are different factors that
affect how much solute can be dissolved in a given solvent as well as the rate at
which they dissolve.
One identifying characteristic of a mixture is that they can be separated into their
pure components through physical means. This laboratory experiment will explore
some of these separation techniques such as filtration, evaporation, sublimation
and absorption.

Objectives
At the end of the activity, the students should be able to:
1. To separate mixture of sand, staple and salt into its pure components.
2. Learn the basic techniques of paper chromatography.
3. Separate and identify the different dyes in a mixture and food
coloring.

Materials
3 pieces of 250mL beakers
Mixtures (from the teacher)
Tooth picks
yellow)
1% NaCl solution

Glass funnel
Filter paper
Food color (red, green, blue,
Sample bottle

Chemistry Laboratory Activity 2: Separation Techniques

Evaporating dish

Magnet

Note: You need to bring the following:

1. Colored pencils or crayons (individual)
2. Pencil

PROCEDURE
Part A.

Separating a sand-salt-staple mixture

1. Obtain mixture that you need to separate from your instructor. Make
sure you indicate the mixture # you got and write it immediately in
Table 1. Get the mass of the mixture and record in Table 2.
2. Label the 250-mL beakers with 1 and 2, use marking pen and masking
tape. Get the initial mass of beakers 1 and 2 and also the evaporating
dish. Write initial mass in Table 1.
3. Transfer the mixture into the pre-weighed 250-mL beaker (beaker 1).
Get the mass and record it. Transfer the mixture into a paper towel and
separate the staple wires by picking it up with the forceps or by using a
magnet. Record the mass of the staple wires that were separated in
Table 2. Set aside.
4. Transfer back the remaining mixture (sand and salt) into the 250-mL
beaker (beaker 1) then add 200 ml warm water and stir.
5. Wait a few minutes until the sand settled into the bottom of beaker 1.
6. Using the stirring rod as a guide, slowly decant liquid into the preweighed beaker 2.
7. Use filtration method when it becomes difficult to decant the liquid
part. Use glass funnel on a ring stand and line it with a filter paper.
Place beaker 2 under the funnel. Make sure the tip of the funnel is
touching the side of the beaker.
8. Pour the remaining mixture into the funnel. Add 8-10 ml warm water
again to beaker 1 if some of the sand still remains in the beaker.
Repeat the procedure until no more mixture remains in beaker 1.
9. Transfer the separated wet sand into a pre-weighed evaporating dish
(label it with your group no. and schedule e.g. MH 7:30-9:00am) and
place inside the oven to dry at 105 C. Spread the sand evenly so it
will dry quickly. Record the mass of the sand when completely dried
(after 30-40 mins. after). Record in Table 2.
10.
Heat beaker 2 (beaker containing the decant salty water) until all
the water has evaporated leaving the solutes behind.
11.
Record the mass of beaker 2 with the solute. Calculate and
record the mass of the solute. Record in Table 2.
12.
Determine the percent by mass of each component of the
mixture using the formula:
% by mass = _______Mass of separated mixture_______ x 100
Chemistry Laboratory Activity 2: Separation Techniques

Mass of original mixture

Table 1. Separating Sand-salt-staple mixture.
Mixture:

Mass (grams)

Beaker 1

Initial:

Beaker 1+Mixture
Beaker 2

Initial:

Beaker 2 + Salt
Evaporating Dish (pre-weighed)
Evaporating + Dry sand

Initial:

Table 2.
Mass (grams)

% by Mass

Mixture
Salt
Sand
Staples

Part B. Paper Chromatography

1. How to apply the pigments onto the filter paper.

a. Take a small piece of filter rectangular filter paper measuring

165x70mm. Important: Touch the filter paper only at the edges
(oils from your hands can affect the separation). Fit inside a beaker
in such a way that it completely covers the inside of the beaker.
Draw two horizontal lines 1.50 cm from the two long sides of the
filter paper using only a pencil (not a pen). Measure the distance
between the two lines and record in Table 3.
b. Using a toothpick, spot the each food color sample (red, blue, green
and yellow food color) on a designated place in one of the horizontal
lines (the darker and smaller your spot is, the better results you will
get). Allow the spot to dry. Spot more on the same place, allowing
the sample to dry between applications. Label each color using a
pencil. Set aside.

Chemistry Laboratory Activity 2: Separation Techniques

2. Chromatography
a. Measure a small amount of 1% sodium chloride solution and
transfer into the beaker.
b. With the spotted filter paper rolled to a cylinder, slowly place it into
the beaker, with the spotted side first making sure that it touches
the solvent uniformly (sodium chloride solution). Remember that
the spots must not be immersed in the solvent
c. Make sure that the paper does not touch the sides of the beaker. Let
the beaker stand undisturbed. Do not pick it up and walk around
with it because that will cause sloshing.
d. Allow the sodium chloride solution to rise up the paper bringing
along with it the components of the food color.
e. Remove the filter paper once the solvent (sodium chloride solution)
has risen about three fourths to the top line. Immediately mark the
height reached by the solvent (this is called the solvent front and
it is important as point of reference for the results), do not wait for it
to dry.
f. Once the filter paper dried, mark out visible spots (pigments) with a
pencil. Measure the distance traveled by the spots and the distance
traveled by the solvent front.
g. Record data in Table 3.

Chemistry Laboratory Activity 2: Separation Techniques

h. Draw the chromatogram obtained in the data sheet. Calculate the Rf

values (retention value).
Rf

= _____distance traveled by the solute_______

distance traveled by the solvent front

3. Identifying color pigments present in a given mixture

a. Obtain mixture that you need to separate from the instructor. Make
sure to indicate the mixture # you got and write it in the data sheet.
b.
Repeat steps a to h for the given mixture (see 2.
Chromatography).
c.
Take note of the travel speed of the different colors.
b. Identify which pigments are present in the color mixture using the
obtained chromatogram and calculated R values.

RESULTS : Paper Chromatography

Table 3. Distance traveled by the solvent font
_______________________

Food
Color
Red

Colors observed in
Chromatogram

Rf

Value

Blue
Yellow
Green
Mixture

Important: Use only pencil and colored pencil or

crayons for the drawings.

Chemistry Laboratory Activity 2: Separation Techniques

Chromatograms of Food Colors

of Mixture

Chromatograms

Questions: Write only on the space provided.

(Paragraph form)
1. Rank the food colors based on their Rf value. Which color traveled
the longest distance. Name at least 2 properties of the color that
affected the Rf value.
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2. In the chromatography of a Mixture. Why does the ink which is

originally black separate into different colors? Why do the colors
traveled in different speeds?
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Chemistry Laboratory Activity 2: Separation Techniques

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Chemistry Laboratory Activity 2: Separation Techniques