METHODS OF SEPARATION

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

Question 1. What is handpicking used for?

(a) Separating liquids from solids

(b) Separating small quantities of substances based on size and shape
(c) Separating grains from stalks
(d) Separating magnetic substances

Question 2. Which method uses wind to separate lighter particles?

(a) Sieving
(b) Threshing
(c) Winnowing
(d) Filtration

Question 3. What is the purpose of evaporation in separation techniques?

(a) To separate insoluble solids from liquids

(b) To convert liquid into vapour and separate dissolved solids
(c) To remove larger particles from smaller ones
(d) To separate grains from husk

Question 4. Which of the following is NOT a method of separation?

(a) Churning
(b) Sedimentation
(c) Compression
(d) Filtration

Question 5. What does a thresher do?

(a) Separates liquids from solids

(b) Separates grains from stalks
(c) Separates husk from grains
(d) Separates small stones from wheat

Fill in the Blanks

1. The process of separating grains from husk using wind is called _____.

2. _____ is used to separate lighter components from heavier ones by

agitating a mixture.

3. In _____, heavier particles settle down at the bottom of a liquid.

4. _____ involves using a filter to remove insoluble solids from liquids.

5. To obtain salt from seawater, the process of _____ is used.

True or False
1. Handpicking is a method used for separating large quantities of
substances.

2. Sieving allows larger particles to pass through while trapping smaller

particles.

3. Threshing is the process of separating grains from their stalks.

4. Magnetic separation can be used to separate non-magnetic substances

from magnetic ones.

5. Winnowing is an effective method for separating heavier grains from

lighter chaff.

Match the Following

Question 1.

Column A Column B
 1. Sieving A) Separates grains by beating

2. Threshing B) Uses a magnet for separation

3. Winnowing C) Separates based on particle size

4. Magnetic Separation D) Uses wind to separate husk from grains

5. Churning E) Separates butter from curd

Question 2.

Separation Purpose for which we What do we do with the

process do the separation separated components?

(a) To separate two

(1) Separate different but useful (i) We throw away the
stones from rice components. solid component.

(2) Churning milk (b) To remove non-useful (ii) We throw away the
to obtain butter components. impurities.

(3) Separate tea (c) To remove impurities (iii) We use both the
leaves or harmful components. components.

One Word Answer

1. Name the process to obtain salt from seawater. Evaporation

2. How will you separate mango from a mixture of mango and apple?

By handpicking
3. Name the method used to separate the pieces of stone from grain.
Handpicking

4. Name the method by which you can separate butter from milk.
Centrifugation

5. Name the method used to separate a mixture of two insoluble liquids.

Sedimentation and decantation.

6. Name the other methods used to separate solid materials of different

size. Sieving

7. Name the process used to separate heavier and lighter components of a

mixture. Winnowing

8. Name the method used to separate cream from milk. Churning

Very Short Answer Questions

Question 1. What is the drawback of evaporation?

Answer: The liquid in the mixture is evaporated off into the air and is not
recovered.

Question 2. What is the purpose of separating materials?

Answer: To organize and manage different materials effectively, improving

efficiency and sustainability.

Question 3. What is handpicking?

Answer: A method of separating substances based on size, colour, or shape,

often done manually.

Question 4. Which types of mixtures are separated by evaporation?

Answer: Evaporation is used to separate solids dissolved in liquid.

Question 5. Give an example of handpicking.

Answer: Separating black peppercorns from vegetable pulao by hand.

Question 6. What is threshing?

Answer: The process of separating grains from harvested stalks by beating them.

Question 7. What is the use of decantation?

Answer: Decantation is used to separate insoluble solids from liquids. Two

immiscible liquids are also separated by this process.

Question 8. What is Sedimentation?

Answer: When the heavier component of a mixture settle down in the container
is known as Sedimentation.

Question 9. How does winnowing work?

Answer: It uses wind to blow away lighter chaff while heavier grains fall to the
ground.

Question 10. What is the function of threshing machines?

Answer: To separate grains from stalks and remove husk efficiently.

Question 11. What is sieving?

Answer: A method to separate particles based on size using a sieve.

Question 12. What happens if sieve holes are too large?

Answer: Both fine and larger particles will pass through, making it ineffective.

Question 13. How is salt obtained from seawater?

Answer: By evaporating seawater in shallow pits, leaving salt behind.

Question 14. What is sedimentation?

Answer: The process where heavier, insoluble particles settle at the bottom of a
liquid.

Question 15. Define decantation.

Answer: Pouring off the liquid after sedimentation, leaving solids behind.

Question 16. What is filtration?

Answer: A method to separate insoluble solids from liquids using a filter

medium.

Question 17. Give an example of filtration.

Answer: Filtering tea leaves from brewed tea using a strainer.

Question 18. Define the term handpicking.

Answer: The process used to separate slightly larger particles from a mixture by
hand is called handpicking. For example: Stone pieces can be separated from
wheat or rice by handpicking.

uestion 19. What is churning?

Answer: Agitating a mixture to separate lighter components, like butter from

curd.

Question 20. How does magnetic separation work?

Answer: It uses magnets to separate magnetic substances from non-magnetic

ones.
Question 21. Provide an example of magnetic separation.

Answer: Separating iron nails from sawdust using a magnet.

Question 22. What materials can be used for filtration besides filter paper?

Answer: Cotton, charcoal, and sand can also be used as filters.

Question 23. Write three methods of separation.

Answer: Handpicking, threshing and winnowing.

Question 24. What is the primary focus of Ayurveda?

Answer: Holistic well-being using natural remedies from herbs and plants.

Question 25. Why are plant materials dried in Ayurveda?

Answer: To remove excess moisture while preserving their medicinal

properties.

Question 26. What is the end product of evaporation of seawater?

Answer: A solid mixture of salts, primarily common salt.

Short Answer Questions

Question 1. What do you mean by sieving? Give an example.

Answer: Sieving allows the fine flour particles to pass through the holes of the
sieve while the bigger particles or impurities remain on the sieve. For example, in
a flour mill, impurities like husk and stones are removed from wheat before
grinding it.

Question 2. How will you prepare cheese (paneer)?

Answer: For making paneer, a few drops of lemon juice are added to milk as it
boils. This gives a mixture of particles of solid paneer and liquid. The paneer is
then separated by filtering the mixture through a fine cloth or strainer.

Question 3. Why is evaporation used in the salt-making process?

Answer: Evaporation is used in salt-making because it removes the water from

seawater or salt solutions, leaving the salt crystals behind.

Question 4. Why is sieving not suitable for separating a mixture of liquids?

Answer: Sieving is used for separating solid mixtures based on particle size and
is ineffective for separating liquids because liquids can pass through all sizes of
sieve holes.

Question 5. What happens during the process of evaporation?

Answer: During evaporation, a liquid is converted into vapor, leaving behind any
dissolved solid components, such as salt from seawater.

Question 6. How does decantation differ from filtration?

Answer: Decantation involves gently pouring off a liquid from a settled solid,
while filtration involves passing a liquid through a filter to separate insoluble
solids.

Question 7. In what situation would handpicking be the most effective

method of separation?

Answer: Handpicking is most effective when the unwanted component, such as

stones or debris, is larger and easily distinguishable from the rest of the mixture.

Question 8. What is the principle behind sedimentation and decantation?

Answer: Sedimentation allows heavier particles to settle at the bottom of a
liquid, and decantation is the process of pouring off the clear liquid without
disturbing the settled particles.

Question 9. How can you separate a mixture of sand and iron filings?

Answer: A mixture of sand and iron filings can be separated by using a magnet,
which attracts the iron filings, leaving the sand behind.

Long Answer Questions

Question 1. Explain the method that can be used for separating the
following mixture:

(i) Sand and husk

(ii) Wheat, sugar and stalk
(iii) Water and petrol
(iv) Rice and salt
(v) Sand and salt

Answer

(i) Mixture of sand and husk: Sand and husk can be separated by the method of
sieving.

(ii) Mixture of wheat, sugar and stalk: For separating stalk from the mixture we
should follow the winnowing method because stalk is lighter than other two
components and get separated. Wheat and sugar can be separated by sieving
because they are of different sizes.

(iii) Mixture of water and petrol: Water does not dissolve in petrol. So, it can be
separated by decantation.

(iv) Mixture of rice and salt: Rice and salt can be separated by sieving.
(v) Mixture of sand and salt: Sand and salt is mixed with water, salt dissolves in
water and sand can be separated from the solution by sedimentation and
decantation followed by filtration. After that by evaporation common salt can be
separated.

Question 5. Write various methods of separation of compounds from their

mixture.

Answer

1. Handpicking
2. Threshing
3. Winnowing
4. Sedimentation
5. Decantation
6. Evaporation
7. Condensation.

Question 6. Where is decantation used? Give two examples.

Answer

(i) Decantation is used to separate insoluble solids or liquid from liquid. Rain
water is a mixture of mud and water. It is purified by decantation.

(ii) Oil and water also get separated by this method because oil floats up.