Separation of substances

Overview:

There are many instances in which one can notice a substance being separated from a mixture of materials. Separation of substances is not only useful in science, but it is also essential for our day-to-day activities. This article deals with a few simple methods in which substances that are in a mixture can be separated. In this lesson, the students will encounter the techniques of handpicking, winnowing, threshing, sedimentation, filtration, and others.

The students will work in small lab groups to design and conduct the separation of a given mixture. They may require structured support from the teacher for discussing about the different approaches to conduct their experiments. The activities are structured in such a way that the students will first observe the mixtures. Then, they will deduce the ways of separating them and communicate effectively about the same with their classmates as well as the teacher. The section under ‘Teacher’s note’ provides directions to the teacher about how this activity should be conducted.

Worksheet and Assessment:

The activities also include worksheets that will help for assessing the students on the basis on which they separate the mixtures during the activity. Apart from this, there are post-activity assessments as well. These will help the teachers know whether the students have been able to comprehend the lesson, which will further help teachers to clarify the misconceptions that the students may have and address their doubts regarding the topic.