Filtration

• What is filtration?

  • Filtration is a physical separation technique that can be used to separate insoluble solids from a liquid
  • It can also be used to separate insoluble solids from soluble solids 
  • The word insoluble means that the solid will not dissolve in the liquid

  
• Describe how to separate an insoluble solid and liquid using filtration?

  • Place the mixture in a beaker 
  • Set up a filter funnel and filter paper inside of a conical flask 
  • Then pour the mixture into the filter paper 
  • The liquid passes through the tiny pores in the filter paper , and scientists call this liquid the filtrate 
  • However the solid material (the insoluble solid) cannot pass through the filter paper so it’s trapped in the filter funnel 
  • This separates the solid from the liquid

  
• Describe how to separate salt (soluble solid)from sand (insoluble solid)

  • Place the mixture of salt and sand in a beaker of water - The salt will dissolve but the sand will remain  
  • Set up a filter funnel and filter paper in a conical flask 
  • Then pour the mixture of sand and water in the filter  paper 
  • The water passes through the tiny pores in the filter paper, and is now called the filtrate 
  • However the sand cannot pass through the filter paper, so is now trapped in the filter funnel 
  • This separates the sand from the salt