Separation Basics and Key Methods
You'll encounter two main types of mixtures in your science lessons. Liquid + insoluble solid mixtures are things like sand in water, whilst liquid + dissolved solid solutions are more like salt dissolved completely in water.
Filtration works perfectly when you need to separate insoluble solids from liquids. Think of it like a really sophisticated tea strainer - the liquid passes through the filter paper, but the solid bits get trapped behind. You'll use a funnel, filter paper, and tripod setup that's dead simple once you've tried it.
Evaporation tackles the trickier job of separating dissolved solids from liquids. By heating the solution, the solvent evaporates away, leaving behind concentrated crystals of your solid. Just remember - some solids decompose when heated, so they break down instead of forming nice crystals.
Top Tip: Use crystallisation with a water bath for slower, gentler heating when you want perfect crystals without decomposing your solid!