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BigWh1tey
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SOLUTIONS :are composed of mixtures of the smallest particles possible and because of this it is impossible to separate the components by settling or filtration. The particles are the sizes of atoms and molecules and are much too small for these methods to be effective. The components of a solution however can be separated by evaporating one of the parts. You probably remember that the molecules of the evaporating substance separate from each other and turn into a gas.
A mixture of salt and water is a solution and you can wait forever for the dissolved salt to fall to the bottom of the glass and it just won't happen. You can try as many coffee filters as you like and you won't be able to catch the salt. The particles are too small. You can however evaporate the water from the mixture and the salt will be left behind while the water molecules leave and enter the air. You can collect them if you like and condense them back into their liquid form.
SUSPENSIONS :will eventually settle out and separate on their own if one of the components is a fluid. If we want to hurry things along we can use a filter to catch one of the components as the mixture flows through the filter. For example get a glass of muddy water and watch as the soil settles out on the bottom of the glass. You can also see the same thing with a bottle of vinegar and oil salad dressing. Shake it up real well and mix all the components together and then just wait. The mixture will separate with the oil 'settling' on top and the spices falling to the bottom with the vinegar in between. Also you can try separating the soil from the water in your glass of muddy water by passing it through a couple of coffee filters.
A mixture of salt and water is a solution and you can wait forever for the dissolved salt to fall to the bottom of the glass and it just won't happen. You can try as many coffee filters as you like and you won't be able to catch the salt. The particles are too small. You can however evaporate the water from the mixture and the salt will be left behind while the water molecules leave and enter the air. You can collect them if you like and condense them back into their liquid form.
SUSPENSIONS :will eventually settle out and separate on their own if one of the components is a fluid. If we want to hurry things along we can use a filter to catch one of the components as the mixture flows through the filter. For example get a glass of muddy water and watch as the soil settles out on the bottom of the glass. You can also see the same thing with a bottle of vinegar and oil salad dressing. Shake it up real well and mix all the components together and then just wait. The mixture will separate with the oil 'settling' on top and the spices falling to the bottom with the vinegar in between. Also you can try separating the soil from the water in your glass of muddy water by passing it through a couple of coffee filters.
