1

GENERAL CHEMISTRY 1 LABORATORY REPORT

ACTIVITY 1: Methods of Separating Mixtures

Members:
Araos, Christine Pearl B.
Bacsa Jerelle Rose
Calub, Ocean John F.
De Guzman, Elisha Jade T.
Ogano, Princess Jonarizza L.
Roda, Joanna Ashly T.
Salazar, Rian D.
Sta.Ana, Angel Julia V.

Grade 11 – Saint Scholastica

Ms. Shenna Mae B. Decoro, LPT

General Chemistry Teacher
August 27, 2024
 2
ABSTRACT

This lab report explores the efficiency of four separation techniques.Filtration, decantation,
chromatography, and magnetism with the use of common materials such as soil, oil, water, and a marker.
The objective was to determine how well each method performs in isolating specific substances from
mixtures. Filtration was conducted by passing a soil-water mixture through filter paper, effectively
trapping soil particles while allowing the clear water to pass through. Decantation was utilized to separate
oil from water, leveraging the difference in their densities; the less dense oil floated on top and was easily
decanted. Chromatography was performed by applying marker ink on a chromatography paper and
dipping the tip of the paper to the water, where the ink separated into various colors as different
components traveled at different rates, demonstrating the technique’s effectiveness in separating complex
mixtures. Magnetism was applied to extract paper clips from the soil with a magnet successfully drawing
out the paper clips.
In conclusion, the experiment demonstrated that each separation techniques.Filtration, decantation,
chromatography, and magnetism has distinct advantages and limitations based on the nature of the
substances involved. Filtration efficiently removes solid particles from liquids, but its effectiveness
diminishes with very fine particles or soluble substances. Decantation is useful for separating immiscible
liquids with different densities but is less effective when density differences are minimal. Chromatography
provides detailed separation of components in complex mixtures, though it requires careful execution ,can
be time consuming and is not always suitable for all types of substances. Magnetism is effective for isolating
magnetic materials but only works with substances that possess magnetic properties. Various methods
exist for separating different substances, but the effectiveness of these methods varies based on the kind of
material being separated. Understanding these strengths and limitations helps in selecting the most
appropriate method for specific separation tasks, ensuring optimal results in both laboratory and practical
applications.

Keywords: Different separating methods, Decantation, Filtration, Magnetic separation, Chromatography.

 3

INTRODUCTION

Several components, which retain their identity and characteristic properties, are present in a
mixture. No chemical reactions occur between the components of a mixture. Many of the materials
surrounding us are mixtures, such as soil, cement, soft drinks, and pharmaceuticals. In this experiment, the
components of a mixture will be separated from each other. The techniques applied for this separation do
not involve a chemical reaction, so that the isolated components will retain their identity.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We conducted a total of four experiments and each of these experiments has its corresponding materials
and methods.

MAGNETIC SEPARATION

The materials we used in this experiment were paper clips, magnets, and soil. The first step is to
mix the soil and paper clips in a container until the paper clips are covered. Next, we used a magnet to
collect and separate the paper clips from the soil. As we moved the magnet, the magnet easily caught the
paper clips below, and some dirt particles were attracted by the magnet due to the iron and nickel content
of the soil.

DECANTATION

During this experiment, we used oil and water as our main materials. The first step involves
preparing the necessary materials by placing 100 milliliters of water in a container and adding the right
amount of oil. Then we mixed the ingredients thoroughly and allowed them to settle for three to five
minutes. After this time, we noticed a clear separation between water and oil. Once the separation is seen,
we proceed with the decantation process, where we pour the supernatant liquid, which is the oil above the
water, into another container to slowly separate the water from the oil.

FILTRATION

We also did the filtration process wherein we used filter paper and funnel, the first thing we did
was fill one of the beakers with 100 ml water and added the right amount of dirt/soil to create a
heterogenous mixture. To filter the mixture, we folded a filter paper into quarters that formed a cone
shape, and it was placed in the funnel. The materials are all set and we started to gently pour the mixture
into the funnel and waited for approximately three minutes for the mixture to be filtered.

CHROMATOGRAPHY

For the last experiment, we used a chromatography paper, pencil and a colored marker that was
used for putting a dot on the paper's baseline. On a beaker, we poured water that is 1.5 cm deep and placed
the chromatography paper that was clipped to the pencil to prevent it from touching the beaker walls. The
paper strip was laid across the top of the beaker, and we waited for the water to move up along with the
ink. We conducted the experiment with 2 solvents, one is water and the second is ethyl alcohol. For the
water solvent, we saw that the color maintained its dark color, while the alcohol solvent has a lighter color
compared to the first solvent.
 4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

RESULTS: the results vary depending on the type of experiment, materials used and procedures conducted.

Chromatography
Observation: A spot of marker ink was applied to the edge of the chromatography paper. As water traveled
up the paper by capillary action, it carried the ink components with it, resulting in multiple distinct color
bands at different heights.
Outcome: The varying distances traveled by different colors indicate effective separation based on their
solubility and interaction with the paper. The bands revealed the complex mixture of dyes present in the
marker ink.

Magnetism
Observation: The soil mixed with a paperclip was subjected to a magnet. The paper clip was attracted to the
magnet, while the soil remained unaffected.
Outcome: The magnetic separation successfully isolated the paper clip from the soil, demonstrating the
method's efficiency for separating magnetic materials from non-magnetic ones.

Decantation
Observation: A mixture of water and oil was allowed to settle. After sufficient time, the oil formed a clear
layer on top of the water.
Outcome: The decantation process effectively separated the oil from the water due to the immiscibility and
density differences between the two liquids. The separation was clear and distinct, but it is not quite
effective since parts of the oil were not able to be filtered from the water just by pouring.
 5

Filtration
Observation: A mixture of soil and water was poured through filter paper. The soil was retained on the filter
paper, and the water, now clear, passed through.
Outcome: Filtration successfully removed the soil particles from the water, resulting in a clean filtrate and a
residue of soil on the filter paper. However, we noticed that it took more than one time for the filtrate to be
clear.

Discussion: The group had a discussion regarding the results and realization after conducting the
experiments.

Chromatography: Chromatography is a powerful technique for analyzing the composition of mixtures.

The marker ink separation demonstrates how different compounds can be resolved based on their
solubility and interaction with the stationary phase (paper) and the mobile phase (water). This method
allows for the detailed analysis of individual components within a mixture, making it valuable in chemical
analysis and research.

Magnetism: The use of a magnet to separate the paper clip from the soil highlights the method’s simplicity
and effectiveness in isolating magnetic substances. This technique is highly efficient for materials where
one component is magnetic and the other is not. Its limitations include its inapplicability to non-magnetic
substances or mixtures where magnetic components are minimal.

Decantation: Decantation effectively separated oil from water based on their immiscibility and density
differences. This method is useful for quick separations when there is a clear density difference, and the
components form distinct layers. However, it may not achieve complete separation if the components mix
or if there are fine droplets of one liquid in the other.

Filtration: Filtration was effective for removing solid particles (soil) from a liquid (water). The process
relies on the pore size of the filter paper, which determines the smallest particle size that can be separated.
While filtration is effective for removing larger particles, it does not remove dissolved substances or very
fine particles that may pass through the filter.
 6

CONCLUSION

The purpose of this lab experiment was to demonstrate the methods of separating mixtures. What
we learned is that most heterogeneous mixtures can be separated by simple physical means, while
homogeneous mixture separation may require specialized separation techniques. Chromatography
provides detailed analysis of complex mixtures, magnetism isolates magnetic materials efficiently,
decantation separating immiscible liquids based on density, and filtration removes solid particles from
liquids. Other methods for separating mixtures include distillation, evaporation, crystallization, and
manual separation.

It is important to be able to separate mixtures to obtain a desired component from the mixture and
to be able to better understand how each component contributes to the properties, chemical and physical,
of the resulting mixture. It is the product of the combination of compounds and elements without chemical
change, so that each substance retains its original properties and remains its own substance. Different
chemicals can be separated in different ways, and the efficacy of each method varies depending on the type
of substance being separated.

REFERENCES

Faith. (2023).Separation Techniques in Chemistry.https://rsci.app.link/? %24canonical_url=https%3A

%2F
%2Fmedium.com%2Fp%2Fb53a4
86a1874&%7Efeature=LoOpenInA ppButton&%7Echannel=ShowPost
UnderCollection&source=---
twocolumn_ayout_nav------

Chemistrynotesblog. Introduction to Separation Techniques.

https://chemistrynotesblog.wordpress.com/seperation-techniques/introduction-to-separation-
techniques-2/

Keypoint. Types of Separation Techniques. https://keypoint.ng/types-of-separation-techniques/