Unit 5: Metals, non-metals, acids and alkalis

Using The Properties Of Materials To Separate Mixtures — HIA International - Grade 6 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 9 parts Lesson 6 of 8 2 quizzes

📚 HIA International - Grade 6 Hub / Topical Revision

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Lesson summary

5.4 Using the properties of materials to separate mixtures (practical methods) — HIA INTERNATIONAL notes: Choose apparatus and safe methods for separating mixtures using differences in properties.Mixture — different substances that are not combined together chemicallySeparation —…

Filter funnel and filter paper
Conical flask
Evaporating dish or basin
Copper sulfate and water
Property used
Carbon powder and table salt

Part 1 of 7Mixtures and separation by properties

Mixture

Mixture different substances that are not combined together chemically

Separation

Separation use a difference in the properties of the substances
Iron is magnetic and sulfur is not, so a magnet separates them.

Part 2 of 7Apparatus for separation

1Filter funnel and filter paper

Filter funnel and filter paper hold back an insoluble solid

2Conical flask

Conical flask collects the liquid that passes through

3Evaporating dish or basin

Evaporating dish or basin holds a solution while the liquid evaporates

4Condenser

Condenser cools a gas so that it condenses back to a liquid

Part 3 of 7Separating a dissolved solid: evaporation

Copper sulfate and water
- if left in a warm room, the water evaporates and leaves the copper sulfate behind in the dish

Part 4 of 7Separating liquids: condenser

The mixture of water and food dye is heated and boils.

The liquid water becomes a gas (steam) at its boiling point.

The gas travels along the tube into the condenser.

Cold water circulating around the outside of the condenser cools the gas, which condenses back to liquid water.

The liquid water collects in the beaker and the food dye remains in the heated container.

Property used
- the water and the food dye have different boiling points

Part 5 of 7Separating sandy, salty water

Place a filter paper in a filter funnel over a conical flask.

Pour the mixture slowly into the funnel, without disturbing the wet filter paper because it tears easily.

The sand stays in the filter paper and the clear salty liquid passes through.

Heat the clear liquid gently in an evaporating basin, wearing safety glasses, and remove it from the heat when it starts to spit.

Leave the liquid in a warm place to evaporate and the salt remains.

Water
- can be obtained by condensing the steam from the heated salty water

Part 6 of 7Separating two solids

Carbon powder and table salt
- use a difference in properties such as the salt dissolving in water while carbon does not
- Add water and stir to dissolve the salt, then filter to remove the carbon.
- Evaporate the salty solution to obtain the salt.

Part 7 of 7Safe practical work

Safety glasses

Safety glasses wear them whenever heating liquids

Heating

Heating heat gently and remove from the heat when the liquid starts to spit

Hazard labels

Hazard labels read them before using chemicals

Key terms

Term	Meaning
Mixture	Different substances not combined chemically.
Condenser	Apparatus that cools a gas so it condenses to a liquid.
Filter funnel	A funnel that holds filter paper.
Filter paper	Paper that holds back insoluble solids.
Conical flask	A flask that collects a filtered liquid.

Avoid these mistakes

Saying a mixture is chemically joined — the substances in a mixture are not combined chemically

Stirring the filter paper — the wet paper tears easily

Using filtration to separate dissolved salt from water — dissolved salt passes through the filter paper

Running water through a condenser in the wrong place — cold water circulates around the outside of the condenser

Last updated: 12 October 2026