Separating a Mixture of Common Salt, Sulphur Powder, and Sand

To separate a mixture of common salt, sulphur powder, and sand, we can use a combination of physical properties and techniques. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to separate these components:

Materials Needed:
- Mixture of common salt, sulphur powder, and sand
- Water
- Beaker or a glass container
- Filter paper
- Funnel
- Bunsen burner or heat source
- Evaporating dish

Procedure:

1. Initial Observation:
- Observe the mixture and note down the physical properties of each component.
- Common salt (sodium chloride) is white and crystalline.
- Sulphur powder is yellow in color.
- Sand is usually brown or gray in color and has a coarse texture.

2. Separation of Sand:
- Add water to the mixture in a glass container or beaker.
- Stir the mixture thoroughly to dissolve the common salt.
- Sand being insoluble in water will settle at the bottom of the container.
- Carefully pour the water along with the dissolved common salt into another container, leaving behind the sand.

3. Separation of Salt from Water:
- Set up a funnel with filter paper over an empty container.
- Slowly pour the saltwater solution through the filter paper.
- The filter paper will trap the sand particles while allowing the saltwater to pass through.
- The saltwater collected in the container can be further separated by evaporation.

4. Evaporation of Saltwater:
- Transfer the saltwater from the container into an evaporating dish.
- Place the evaporating dish on a Bunsen burner or a heat source.
- Heat the dish gently, allowing the water to evaporate.
- As the water evaporates, salt crystals will be left behind in the dish.

5. Separation of Sulphur:
- The remaining mixture will contain only sulphur powder and sand.
- To separate sulphur from sand, you can use the property of sublimation.
- Sublimation is the process in which a solid directly changes to a gas upon heating without going through the liquid state.
- Heat the remaining mixture gently in a container.
- Sulphur being a volatile substance will sublime and form a gas, leaving behind the sand particles.

By following this step-by-step procedure, you can successfully separate a mixture of common salt, sulphur powder, and sand into their individual components.