Techniques for Separating Mixtures - Worksheet | Teach Starter - Free Printable

To solve this matching task, we need to look at what each separation technique does and match it to the correct description. Let’s go step by step.

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Step 1: Understand each term

- Chromatography: Used to separate mixtures of dissolved substances (like inks or dyes) based on how fast they move through a material.

- Decantation: Pouring off a liquid from a solid that has settled at the bottom — done after shaking and letting things settle.

- Filtration: Separating an insoluble solid from a liquid using a filter (like coffee grounds from water).

- Evaporation: Heating a solution to remove the solvent (usually water), leaving behind the solute (solid). Example: saltwater → evaporate water → left with salt.

- Distillation: Boiling a solution to collect the vapor (solvent), then cooling it back to liquid — used when you want to recover both the solvent and the solute. More complex than evaporation.

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Step 2: Match each definition

Let’s read each box on the left and find its match on the right.

1. “Used when separating a solvent from a solution”
→ This is evaporation. You heat the solution, the solvent turns to gas and leaves, leaving the solute behind.
✔ Match: Evaporation

2. “Used when separating a soluble solvent from a solid”
Wait — this wording is tricky. A “soluble solvent” doesn’t make sense — solvents dissolve solids; they aren’t “soluble.” Probably meant: “separating a *solute* (solid) from a solvent”? But let’s check context.

Actually, looking again: maybe it’s a typo? In science, we say:
- Solute = substance being dissolved (e.g., salt)
- Solvent = doing the dissolving (e.g., water)

So “separating a soluble solvent from a solid” — that phrase is confusing. Perhaps it means “separating a *solution* into solvent and solid”? That would be evaporation or distillation.

But wait — look at #5: “Used when separating a solute from a...” — probably cut off, but likely “from a solvent”.

Let’s hold this and come back.

3. “Used when separating mixtures containing dissolved substances”
→ That’s chromatography. It separates things like ink colors that are dissolved.
✔ Match: Chromatography

4. “Used when separating a mixture through shaking and settling”
→ That’s decantation. You shake, let heavy stuff sink, then pour off the top layer.
✔ Match: Decantation

5. “Used when separating a solute from a...” (cut off, but likely “from a solvent”)
→ If you’re removing the solvent to leave the solute, that’s evaporation — but we already used that for #1.

Wait — perhaps #1 is distillation? Let’s re-express:

Actually, let’s list standard definitions clearly:

- Evaporation: Remove solvent by heating → get solute only.
- Distillation: Boil solvent, capture vapor, condense it → get pure solvent AND can leave solute behind. So if you want to separate solvent FROM solution and COLLECT the solvent, that’s distillation.
- Filtration: Separate UNDISSOLVED solid from liquid.
- Decantation: Pour off liquid after solid settles.
- Chromatography: Separate DISSOLVED substances (like dyes).

Now re-match:

Left side boxes:

A. “Used when separating a solvent from a solution”
→ If you’re just removing the solvent (not collecting it), it’s evaporation.
If you’re collecting the solvent too, it’s distillation.
But typically, “separating a solvent from a solution” implies you want the solvent — so distillation.

B. “Used when separating a soluble solvent from a solid”
This is poorly worded. Probably meant: “separating a *solute* (solid) from a solvent” — which could be filtration (if undissolved) or evaporation/distillation (if dissolved).
But since it says “soluble solvent”, maybe it’s a mistake — perhaps “insoluble solid from a solvent”? Then it’s filtration.

Wait — look at C: “Used when separating mixtures containing dissolved substances” → chromatography.

D. “Used when separating a mixture through shaking and settling” → decantation.

E. “Used when separating a solute from a...” → likely “from a solvent” — if dissolved, then evaporation or distillation.

We have five terms and five descriptions.

Let me assign logically:

Standard matches taught in middle school:

- Filtration → separates insoluble solid from liquid → e.g., sand from water.
- Evaporation → removes solvent to leave solute → e.g., salt from saltwater.
- Distillation → separates solvent from solution AND collects the solvent → e.g., pure water from saltwater.
- Decantation → pouring off liquid after solid settles → e.g., wine from sediment.
- Chromatography → separates dissolved colored substances → e.g., ink components.

Now match:

Box 1: “Used when separating a solvent from a solution”
→ If you’re taking the solvent OUT and keeping it, that’s distillation.
If you’re just getting rid of it to leave the solute, that’s evaporation.
The phrase “separating a solvent from a solution” suggests isolating the solvent — so distillation.

Box 2: “Used when separating a soluble solvent from a solid”
Again, bad wording. Probably meant: “separating an *insoluble* solid from a solvent” → that’s filtration.
Because if the solid is insoluble, you filter it out.
“Soluble solvent” doesn’t make sense — solvents aren’t “soluble”; they do the dissolving.
Likely typo — should be “insoluble solid from a solvent” → filtration.

Box 3: “Used when separating mixtures containing dissolved substances” → chromatography

Box 4: “Used when separating a mixture through shaking and settling” → decantation

Box 5: “Used when separating a solute from a...” → assuming “from a solvent” → if dissolved, and you want the solute, that’s evaporation

Yes — that fits.

So final matching:

- Box 1 → Distillation
- Box 2 → Filtration
- Box 3 → Chromatography
- Box 4 → Decantation
- Box 5 → Evaporation

But wait — the right-side options are listed as:

Right column:

- Chromatography
- Decantation
- Filtration
- Evaporation
- Distillation

And left column has 5 boxes.

In the image, the left boxes are:

1. Used when separating a solvent from a solution → Distillation
2. Used when separating a soluble solvent from a solid → probably Filtration (assuming typo)
3. Used when separating mixtures containing dissolved substances → Chromatography
4. Used when separating a mixture through shaking and settling → Decantation
5. Used when separating a solute from a [solvent] → Evaporation

Perfect.

Double-check:

- Distillation: separates solvent from solution (and collects it) ✔
- Filtration: separates insoluble solid from liquid — if “soluble solvent from a solid” is misworded, and meant “insoluble solid from solvent”, then yes ✔
- Chromatography: for dissolved substances ✔
- Decantation: shaking and settling ✔
- Evaporation: separates solute from solvent by removing solvent ✔

All matched.

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Final Answer:

Match the following:

- "Used when separating a solvent from a solution" → Distillation
- "Used when separating a soluble solvent from a solid" → Filtration *(assuming typo for "insoluble solid")*
- "Used when separating mixtures containing dissolved substances" → Chromatography
- "Used when separating a mixture through shaking and settling" → Decantation
- "Used when separating a solute from a [solvent]" → Evaporation

Since the task says “use colored pencils to match”, and we’re to provide the correct pairings, here is the answer in pairing format:

Left Description → Right Term

1. Used when separating a solvent from a solution → Distillation
2. Used when separating a soluble solvent from a solid → Filtration
3. Used when separating mixtures containing dissolved substances → Chromatography
4. Used when separating a mixture through shaking and settling → Decantation
5. Used when separating a solute from a [solvent] → Evaporation

Note: The second description likely contains a wording error (“soluble solvent” should probably be “insoluble solid”), but based on standard curriculum, Filtration is the intended match.

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Final Answer:
1. Distillation
2. Filtration
3. Chromatography
4. Decantation
5. Evaporation