How to separate mixture components?

Separating mixture components:

       Many different methods can be used to separate the components of a mixture from one another. 

1- Filtration, used to separate a heterogeneous solid-liquid mixture. The mixture is passed through a barrier with fine pores, such as filter paper. Copper sulfate, which is water-soluble, can be separated from sand by shaking with water. On filtration the sand remains on the paper and the copper sulfate solution passes through it.

2- Distillation, used to resolve a homogeneous solid-liquid mixture. The liquid vaporizes, leaving a residue of the solid in the distilling flask. The liquid is obtained by condensing the vapor. Distillation can be used to separate the components of a water solution of copper sulfate.

3- Chromatography, used to separate all kinds of mixtures. This method takes advantage of differences in solubility and/or extent of adsorption on a solid surface.

In gas-liquid chromatography, a mixture of volatile liquids and gases is introduced into one end of a heated glass tube. 

a. Inert solid: The tube is packed with an inert solid whose surface is coated with a viscous liquid. 

b. An non-reactive “carrier gas”: often helium, is passed through the tube. 

The components of the sample gradually separate as they vaporize into the helium or condense into the viscous liquid. Usually the more volatile fractions move faster and emerge first; successive fractions activate a detector and recorder.