Types of Solid liquid mixtures and methods of separation

A solid-liquid mixture is a substance made up of two substances, one solid and one liquid. There are four main types of solid-liquid mixtures: suspension, solution, and colloid. The mixtures can vary in how they are made.

1. Suspension

A suspension is a mixture where the two substances are not completely mixed. In this type of mixture, one substance will be particles that will sit on top of the other substance, and they can not dissolve in one another. Examples of suspensions are milk and honey, where the particles floating in the liquid are milk, and the particles sitting on top of the honey are solid.

2. Solution

A solution is made up of two substances that have completely mixed together. The substances have all dissolved into one another. Although solutions are completely mixed into one another, some solids will still exist in them. In the solution of milk and honey, there will be a few particles that do not dissolve in the other substance.

3. Colloid

A colloid is a mixture of two substances that are separated by some small particle. The particles can be single molecules or even smaller. Examples of colloids are milk, where the particles are single carbon granules, and sugar, where the particles are water molecules.

Methods of separating a solid-liquid mixture

There are many different methods of separating a solid mixture. Some methods are more efficient than others, and there can be dangers in the process of separating them. Examples of some methods are:

1. Filtering

Filtering is passing a liquid through some filter to remove solid matter that may be in it. Although this is an efficient method, it will take longer to separate the substance.

2. Evaporation

If the substance is liquid and heat it to a critical temperature, that substance will evaporate. As the substance evaporates, the particles left behind will settle out of the liquid. This is a simple and efficient method of separating substances.

3. Sedimentation

This is the process of stirring a mixture with a solid in it. The particle will settle out of the liquid and settle to the bottom as you stir the mixture. The particles that are left behind will be smaller particles.

4. Crystallization

Crystalizing is the process of creating a crystal of the substance in it. The crystal will separate from the liquid because it has a different density than the liquid. This is done by cooling the substance down, causing the crystal to form.