What are the different methods in separating the components of mixtures??

Question

What are the different methods in separating the components of mixtures??

Answer 1

There are many ways, I'll probably miss some!

Crystallization:  A mixture of solids is dissolved in a hot solvent, concentrated and allowed to cool.  The solids slowly become insoluble and crystallize.  Usually, a major component will crystallize in rather pure form, leaving others behind in solution.

Distillation to separate by boiling point.

Extraction:  You can adjust the conditions to alter solubility of various components in water and organic solvent.  For example acids are soluble in water when the pH is basic, and soluble in organic solvent when it is acidic.  

Reactions: you can make other compounds (temporarily) of components in the mixture to separate them.  This is most often done to separate inorganic materials by precipitating and extracting their oxides, sulfides, chlorides, nitrates,etc.  or by dissolving them selectively in various acids.  

Chromatography:  Different things in a mixture will adhere to a wide variety of certain materials such a silica gel and paper.  There are many chromatographic techniques including gas and liquid types of chromatography.  As the mixture in solution is passed over a the material, interaction with it will slow down the rate of passage of each component.  If two components are slowed to sufficiently different degrees, one will completely come off the material before the next begins, completely separating the two.  This has become the most common way (or ways, because there are so many different ones) to separate components of mixtures.  

Answer 2

Decantation.  Firstly, you must add a reagent that will fom a precipitate with the substance you want to precipitate.  Then, when no precipiate forms anymore, you let the precipitate settle to the bottom of the test tube or the beaker and you slowly pour the solution into another container, leaving the precipiate. Or if you have a centrifuge in the lab, you can just use it.

Filtration.  You again precipitae the substance you want isolated.  Then you use a filter paper in a funnel to separate the mixture.

Distillation.  You must take note of the boiling pts of the substances you want separated.  You heat the whole solution at a certain temp enough to evaporate one component.