Please help.... chemistry problem?

Question

In a common lab experiment in general chemistry, students are asked to determine the relative amounts of benzoic acid and charcoal in a solid mixture. Benzoic acid is relatively soluble in hot water, but charcoal is not. Devise a meathod for separating the two components of this mixture.

Thanks for reading and helping me.

The only thing I could come up with is steam. But I dont think its right.

Answer 1

That sounds reasonable.  Put the solid mixture in hot water and let the acid become soluble.  Then filter out the mixture (buchner funnel) and collect the charcoal.  That might do it...

Answer 2

Measure the total mass.  Then mix the solids with water and filter it.  The benzoic acid will stay dissolved in the water and the charcoal will be filtered out.  Dry the charcoal and take the mass of the charcoal.  The difference in mass of charcoal and total mass is the mass of benzoic acid.