•

Dec 23, 2025

•

47 pages

Complete Notes on Separating Mixtures

Maryahna Schleich

@maryahnaschleich

Mixtures are all around us! From the air we breathe... Show more

1 / 10

Separating Mixtures

Ever wonder how scientists get pure substances from mixed-up materials? The image shows a distillation setup, one of the key ways to separate mixtures.

When we need to purify a liquid, we can heat it until it boils. The vapor rises, cools in the condenser, and becomes pure distilled liquid. The impurities stay behind!

Cool Fact: Distillation is how we get fresh water from seawater in places where clean water is scarce!

Classifying Substances

Everything around us can be organized into a simple family tree of matter. At the top level, substances are either pure or mixed.

Pure substances come in two types: elements (like oxygen or gold) that can't be broken down further, and compounds (like water) where elements are chemically joined together.

Mixtures contain two or more substances that aren't chemically combined. They can be homogeneous (evenly mixed throughout) or heterogeneous (unevenly mixed with visible parts).

What Makes a Mixture?

A mixture must have at least two different substances mixed together. A single substance by itself can never be a mixture.

Think of it like a fruit salad - one kind of fruit alone isn't a salad. You need different fruits combined to make it a mixture!

Remember This: Mixtures are like roommates sharing the same space - they're together, but they keep their own identities!

Characteristics of Mixtures

Mixtures can contain any combination of solids, liquids, and gases. The cool thing about mixtures is that the different parts don't chemically join together - they're just physically mixed.

Because the components aren't chemically bonded, we don't need chemical reactions to separate them. We can use simple physical methods to pull apart the different parts of a mixture.

This is great news because it means separating mixtures is usually easier than breaking apart chemical compounds!

Types of Mixtures

Mixtures come in many different combinations depending on what states of matter are mixed together. You encounter these different types every day!

Mixtures can combine: solid & solid (like soil), solid & liquid (like muddy water), solid & gas (like smoke), liquid & liquid (like salad dressing), liquid & gas (like fog), or gas & gas (like air).

Each type of mixture has different properties, and knowing what kind of mixture you have helps you figure out how to separate it.

Think About It: How many different mixtures have you used today? Your breakfast cereal in milk? The air you breathe?

Solid & Solid Mixtures

When two or more solid substances are combined, they form a solid-solid mixture. Think of soil as a perfect example - it contains tiny rock particles, organic matter, and many other solid components all mixed together.

Other examples include trail mix (nuts, dried fruits, chocolate), mixed spices, or a handful of different colored beads. Even though they're mixed, you can often still see the different parts.

These mixtures are usually easy to spot because the different solid components maintain their individual appearances.

Solid & Liquid Mixtures: Suspensions

Have you ever jumped in a puddle and watched the water turn muddy? That's a suspension - where solid particles like clay or sand are mixed with water.

In suspensions, the solid particles are large enough that they don't dissolve but instead float around in the liquid. These mixtures are opaque - meaning they're cloudy and you can't see through them clearly.

If you let a suspension sit still, the solid particles will eventually sink to the bottom because they're heavier than the liquid.

Solid & Liquid Mixtures: Solutions

When you stir sugar into water, something different happens - the sugar seems to disappear! This creates a solution, where one substance (the sugar) dissolves completely in another (the water).

Unlike suspensions, solutions are clear - you can see right through them because the dissolved particles are too small to block light.

In a solution, the particles are mixed at such a tiny level that they won't settle out, no matter how long you wait.

Comparing Suspensions and Solutions

Looking at a glass of muddy water next to a glass of sugar water shows the difference perfectly. The suspension of sand and clay in water is cloudy and opaque - you can't see through it clearly.

The sugar solution, however, is completely transparent - looking just like plain water even though it contains dissolved sugar.

This visual difference is a key way to identify what type of mixture you're dealing with.

Quick Test: If you can shine a flashlight through a mixture and see the beam clearly on the other side, it's probably a solution!

Solid & Gas Mixtures: Smoke

Ever seen smoke rising from a campfire? That's actually a mixture of solid particles floating in gases! Smoke contains tiny solid particles called soot suspended in gases like carbon dioxide.

Smoke can contain many different chemicals depending on what's burning. These include harmful substances like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and tiny particles that can get into your lungs.

This is why firefighters wear masks - to filter out these dangerous solid particles from the air they breathe.

We thought you’d never ask...

What is the Knowunity AI companion?

Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.

Where can I download the Knowunity app?

You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.

Is Knowunity really free of charge?

That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

App Store

4.8/5

Google Play

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️

Thomas R

iOS user

Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades

Brad T

Android user

Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend

Aubrey

iOS user

Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀

Marco B

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!

Paul T

iOS user

Stefan S

iOS user

Samantha Klich

Android user

Anna

iOS user

Thomas R

iOS user

Brad T

Android user

Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍

David K

iOS user

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

Aubrey

iOS user

Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀

Marco B

iOS user

Elisha

iOS user

Paul T

iOS user

Biology

In a solution, the particles are mixed at such a tiny level that they won't settle out, no matter how long you wait.

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Comparing Suspensions and Solutions

Looking at a glass of muddy water next to a glass of sugar water shows the difference perfectly. The suspension of sand and clay in water is cloudy and opaque - you can't see through it clearly.

The sugar solution, however, is completely transparent - looking just like plain water even though it contains dissolved sugar.

This visual difference is a key way to identify what type of mixture you're dealing with.

Quick Test: If you can shine a flashlight through a mixture and see the beam clearly on the other side, it's probably a solution!

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Solid & Gas Mixtures: Smoke

Ever seen smoke rising from a campfire? That's actually a mixture of solid particles floating in gases! Smoke contains tiny solid particles called soot suspended in gases like carbon dioxide.

Smoke can contain many different chemicals depending on what's burning. These include harmful substances like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and tiny particles that can get into your lungs.

This is why firefighters wear masks - to filter out these dangerous solid particles from the air they breathe.