Sublimation for Separating Ammonium Chloride and Sand

Sublimation is a method of separation used to separate a mixture of two or more solids, where one of the solids can sublime. In this case, ammonium chloride is the solid that can sublime. The process of sublimation involves the conversion of a solid directly into a gas without passing through the liquid state.

Steps for Separation of Ammonium Chloride and Sand:

1. Take the mixture of ammonium chloride and sand and heat it in a china dish or evaporating dish.

2. As the mixture is heated, ammonium chloride starts to sublime and gets converted into a gas.

3. The gas of ammonium chloride rises up and gets deposited on the cooler surface of the inverted funnel or watch glass placed above the china or evaporating dish.

4. As the gas of ammonium chloride gets deposited on the cooler surface, it solidifies back into its solid state.

5. The sand, being a non-volatile substance, remains in the china dish or evaporating dish.

6. The solid ammonium chloride can be scraped off from the surface of the inverted funnel or watch glass and collected.

7. The separated sand can be collected from the china dish or evaporating dish.

Advantages of Using Sublimation for Separation:

- It is a simple, easy and cost-effective method of separation.

- It is a quick method of separation.

- It is a non-destructive method of separation, i.e., the original substances can be recovered after separation.

- It is a suitable method of separation for mixtures where one of the substances can sublime.

Conclusion:

Therefore, we can conclude that sublimation is the most appropriate method of separation for separating a mixture of ammonium chloride and sand.