When two or more materials or
substances are mixed together
but do not chemically combine.
This means they retain their
original properties.
This means they can be
separated by physical means.
THE SEPARATION OF MIXTURES INTO THEIR
COMPONENTS MAY BE DONE USING PHYSICAL
PROCESSES.
Some of the processes are filtration, sedimentation, decantation,
sublimation, evaporation, distillation, chromatography and
magnetism.

Filtration- is one of the most common methods of separating
solids from liquids that is used not only in laboratories but also
at home. It requires a filtering medium like cheesecloth or filter
paper, which traps the insoluble substances while allowing the
liquid that contains the soluble substances to pass through. The
solid component that remained on the cheesecloth or filter paper
is called the residue.
The clear liquid that was collected is called the filtrate.
Filtration is often used to separate water-soluble from waterinsoluble components.

Sedimentation- is a process used to separate the components
of mixtures based on their varying weights. By sedimentation,
heavy suspended particles are allowed to settle at the bottom of
the container.
This is after some time, the water becomes clearer, and
impurities like small grains of sand settle. The liquid portion is
then poured out carefully in such a way that the sediments are
not disturbed. This process called decantation.
 Sublimation- a solid turns into gas without going through
the liquid stage. Through this method, a component of a
mixture can be separated from the component that sublimes.
For example, a mixture of naphthalene and salt in a
container can be separated by heating the mixture. The
naphthalene change directly from solid to gas, through which
the salt remains in the container.
 Evaporation- is the process of separating a soluble
solid to a liquid or solvent. Take the salt solution as an
example. If you want to separate salt from the water, use
the evaporation method. In this process, the solution is
subject to heat until the liquid (solvent) evaporates and the
solid crystals of the salt will be left.
 Distillation- is the separation of mixtures through the
continuous cycle of evaporation and condensation of the
volatile components of the mixture, which have different
boiling points. A mixture of alcohol and water may be
separated because the components have different boiling
points. Through distillation, drinking water can also be
recovered from an aqueous salt solution like sea water .
 Chromatography- is a simple but efficient technique
used to separate and identify the components of a mixture. A
mixture is dissolved in the fluid mobile phase, which
percolates through the material called the stationary phase.
The components of the mixtures separate as they travel at
different speeds toward the phase for which they have an
affinity. An example of a mixture that can be separated by
chromatography is the blank ink of a white board marker.
The different colors used to prepare the ink separate
depending on the affinity of the colored ink.
 Magnetism
If one component of the mixture has magnetic
properties, you could use a magnet to separate the mixture.
Iron, nickel, and cobalt are all materials that are magnetic.
Not all metals are magnetic: gold, silver, and aluminum
are examples of metals that are not magnetic.
Magnetism examples