CHM 130LL: Experiment #3 - Separation of a Mixture of Sand, Ammonium Chloride and Sodium

Chloride
Objectives
1. Experiment with physical processes used to separate the components of mixtures. Be able to identify
characteristics of physical processes as compared to chemical processes.
2. Apply techniques of filtration, extraction, and sublimation to separate the components of a mixture.
Introduction
When two or more substances that do not react chemically are combined, the result is a mixture in which
each of the component substances retains its identity and its fundamental properties. The separation of
the components of mixtures is a problem frequently encountered in chemistry. When possible, physical
processes are used so as to retain the fundamental properties of the components in the mixture. Physical
techniques used to separate mixtures rely on the differences in properties of the components. These
techniques include filtration, distillation, sublimation, extraction, chromatography, and etc. You will
apply three of these techniques in this experiment.Sublimation is the direct passage of a substance from
the solid to the gas state. You will remove ammonium chloride, NH 4Cl, from a mixture of solids by
subliming it, since it is the only component in the mixture capable of subliming under normal
experimental conditions.Extraction is another technique that involves transferring of a substance in the
mixture from one phase to another. You will transfer sodium chloride, NaCl, from the solid phase to the
liquid phase in the form of a water solution. The sodium chloride can then be recovered by evaporation of
the water. Evaporation is a process in which a liquid passes into the gas state. Filtration is the process of
removing a solid from a liquid. You will remove sand from a mixture of sodium chloride and water.
Disposal of Chemicals
Place the sand remaining at the end of the experiment in the waste bottle. Rinse the sodium chloride in
the second evaporating dish down the sink.
Procedure
A. Percentage of ammonium chloride, NH4Cl
In this step ammonium chloride is removed from the mixture by sublimation and its mass is found by
difference.
1. Weigh a clean, dry evaporating dish.
2. Add approximately 1.00 g of the sample into the evaporating dish and reweigh. Record the mass
and the unknown number in Table I of the Report Sheet.
3. IN THE FUME HOOD: Place the evaporating dish on a hot plate. Heat on high for about
seven minutes. Gently stir the mixture with a stirring rod, then apply heat again for five minutes.
4. Let the evaporating dish cool until you can hold it firmly in your hand. Weigh the evaporating
dish and solid, recording the mass directly in Table I.
5. Determine the mass loss. This mass loss is the mass of ammonium chloride that was originally
present in the mixture. Calculate the percentage of ammonium chloride.
B. Percentages of sodium chloride, NaCl, and of sandIn this step the solid remaining from the previous
step is mixed with water in order to dissolve the sodium chloride. The solution is filtered away from the
sand and the mass of sodium chloride is found by evaporating the water from the solution. The sand
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remaining on the filter paper is dried and its mass determined.

1. Add 20 mL of deionized water to the solid in the evaporating dish. Stir gently.
2. Obtain a second clean, dry evaporating dish and weigh it. Recording the mass in Table III.
3. Obtain a piece of filter paper and write your unknown number on it. Then fold it as illustrated below,
and weigh. Record the paper mass in Table II.
4. Place the paper in a filter funnel supported by a clay triangle on a ring attached to a ring stand, and wet
it gently to make the paper stick to the funnel. Place the second weighed evaporating dish under the
funnel with the end of the stem of the funnel lightly touching the inside of the evaporating dish.

5. Slowly pour the sand-water mixture through the funnel. Add a small amount of distilled water from
your wash bottle to rinse out any remaining solid from the original evaporating dish and pour it through
the filter. (Add only enough water to remove any solids. Excess water will have to be evaporated.)
6. After the liquid has drained through the filter, carefully remove the paper from the funnel, unfold it,
and place it on a watch glass. Place the glass and paper under a heating lamp to dry. You need to weigh
the dried paper and find the mass of the sand, which is in step 7. However, you can proceed to step 8
while the filter paper is drying.
7. Weigh the dried paper and find the mass of the sand. Record your data in Table II. Calculate the
percentage of sand in the original mixture.
8. Place the evaporating dish on the hot plate. This can be done on the bench top. However, handle the
hot plates with care. Do NOT move a hot plate that is not completely cool. Begin heating using a high
temperature setting.
9. Once the mixture begins to boil reduce the heat. Continue heating gently.
10. Lower the temperature as needed to avoid splattering. The less water present, the lower the
temperature required. Heat very gently and very slowly until all moisture is removed.
11. Remove the evaporating dish from the hot plate with a tong and set it on the bench top to cool.
12. Weigh the cooled dish plus solid and record it in Table III.

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Name _______________________

Section Day ______

Lab Partner __________________

CHM 130LL: Experiment #3 - Separation of a Mixture

Read the appropriate section of the lab introduction or procedure before starting each section.

A. Percentage of ammonium chloride, NH4Cl

Table I.

Unknown Number (Letter)

__________________________________
Mass dish + sample before

g Calculations

heating
Mass dish

Mass sample

Mass dish + sample after heating

Mass dish + sample before

heating (from line 1 above)

Mass NH4Cl

Mass % of NH4Cl
B. Percentages of sodium chloride, NaCl, and of sand
Table II.
Mass dried paper + sand

g Calculations

Mass paper

Mass sand

Mass sample (from Table I)

Mass % of sand

Table III.
Mass dish + dry NaCl

g Calculations

Mass empty dish

Mass NaCl

Mass sample (from Table I)

Mass % of NaCl
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C. Data summary and discussion

Complete the table below. Theoretically, what should be the total percentage? Comment on the total
percentage you have obtained through the experiment.
Substance

Percentage found

NH4Cl
sand
NaCl
total
Comment:

Questions
1. List three examples of physical changes that occurred in this experiment.

2. A 4.00 gram sample of a solution of sodium chloride in water was heated until all the water has
evaporated. The sodium chloride that remained weighed 1.22 grams. Calculate the percentage of water
in the original solution. SHOW METHOD.

3. A laboratory technician wants to prepare 80.0 grams of a mixture containing 50.0 % sand, 30.0 %
sodium chloride, and 20.0 % ammonium chloride by mass. Calculate the mass of each substance that the
technician would need to mix. SHOW METHOD.

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