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Making and separating solutions

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Lesson notes

Solutions and Dissolving

  • When a solute dissolves in a solvent, a solution forms.
  • Sugar and salt are soluble in water; sand is insoluble in water.
  • Dissolving happens because solute particles mix evenly with solvent particles.
  • Stirring and heating the solvent make a solute dissolve faster.

Separating a Soluble Solid from a Solution (Evaporation)

  • To obtain a dissolved solid (e.g., copper sulphate), evaporate the solvent.
  • Pour the solution into an evaporating basin and heat gently.
  • As the solvent evaporates, crystals of the solute form.
  • Remove from heat when enough solvent has evaporated, then leave to crystallise.

Separating an Insoluble Solid from a Liquid (Filtration)

  • Use filtration to separate an insoluble solid (e.g., sand) from a liquid.
  • Pour the mixture through filter paper in a funnel.
  • Liquid particles (small) pass through the paper; solid particles (larger) are trapped.
  • The liquid that passes through is called the filtrate; the trapped solid is the residue.

Particle arrangement in solids, liquids, and gases. Dissolving involves particles mixing, not changing state.

Particle arrangementSolidLiquidGas

Slides

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Practice questions

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  1. 1.Which of the following is true about sand and water?

    Easy
    • ASand is soluble in water.
    • BSand is insoluble in water.
    • CSand dissolves in water to form a solution.
    • DSand and water cannot be separated by filtration.
  2. 2.What is the solute in a fizzy drink where carbon dioxide is dissolved in water?

    Easy
    • AWater
    • BCarbon dioxide
    • CFizzy drink
    • DSugar
  3. 3.Which of the following best defines the term 'soluble'?

    Easy
    • AA substance that cannot dissolve in a solvent
    • BA substance that can dissolve in a solvent
    • CA liquid that dissolves other substances
    • DA mixture of a solute and a solvent
  4. 4.Which of the following best defines the term 'insoluble'?

    Easy
    • AA substance that can dissolve in a solvent
    • BA substance that cannot dissolve in a solvent
    • CA liquid that dissolves other substances
    • DA mixture that cannot be separated
  5. 5.Which two methods can make sugar dissolve faster in water?

    Easy
    • AHeating and stirring
    • BCooling and stirring
    • CHeating and leaving still
    • DAdding more sugar and cooling
  6. 6.How would you separate sand from a mixture of sand and water?

    Easy
    • AEvaporation
    • BDistillation
    • CFiltration
    • DChromatography
  7. 7.Which method is used to obtain sugar crystals from a sugar solution?

    Easy
    • AFiltration
    • BEvaporation
    • CDistillation
    • DDecanting
  8. 8.In a solution of salt water, which component is the solvent?

    Easy
    • ASalt
    • BWater
    • CBoth salt and water
    • DNeither

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