Experiment 3 Formal Report

In this experiment, the mixture assigned was to be separated and each derived substance's percent composition was to be computed. After computing for the percent composition, the type of mixture, either Homogeneous or Heterogeneous, was to be determined.

In order to separate a mixture, the term mixture must first be defined. According to Chang and Overby, a mixture is a combination of two or more substances in which the substances retain their distinct identities. This means that it could be separated into parts or fractions by physical means because each component retained its properties. A substance, unlike a mixture, cannot be further broken down or purified by physical means (Whitten, Davis, Peck & Stanley, 2007). A mixture could either be a homogeneous or a heterogeneous mixture. According to Whitten, Davis, Peck and Stanley, a homogeneous mixture is a type of mixture wherein portions of the sample have recognizably different properties while on the other hand, a heterogeneous mixture was a type of mixture which has uniform properties all throughout.

The assigned mixture is composed of Salt (NaCl), Sand (SiO2) and Napthalene (C10H8). First, in order to separate the Napthalene, the mixture was heated so that the Napthalene would sublimate. Sublimation is the direct vaporization of a solid by heating without passing through the liquid state (Whitten, Davis, Peck & Stanley, 2007). When the Napthalene has sublimated, it would turn back into solid and stick to the large beaker covering the container through the process of deposition with the use of wet tissues. Deposition is the process in which heat leaves the gas as it solidifies (Simon-Antero, Alumaga & Estanilla, 2004). Second, to separate the Sand, distilled water was added to the mixture. This was done so that the Salt in the mixture would dissolve and turn into small particles. After the salt has dissolved, the mixture was filtered using a filter paper and a funnel. Filtration is the process of separating small solid particles from a liquid by passing the mixture through a porous medium (Simon-Antero, Alumaga & Estanilla, 2004). Lastly, in order to separate the salt, the filtrate was heated so that the distilled water would evaporate, leaving the salt on the container. Evaporation is the process in which liquid turns into gas (Simon-Antero, Alumaga & Estanilla, 2004). When the water has completely evaporated, the three substances have already been separated. The Napthalene would be in the large beaker, the sand would be in the filter paper(residue), and the salt would be in the container of the mixture.

Another way of separating the three substances is by, first, adding Dichloromethane to the mixture. By adding the Dichloromethane, Napthalene would dissolve and by filtering the mixture, Dichloromethane and Napthalene would be separated from the mixture. When filtered, heat the filtrate until the Dichloromethane completely