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How do you separate a mixture of salt sand and pebbles?

In: Science, Chemistry [Edit categories]

Answer:

This would be a two stage process. Mechanical separation, such as a screening box, will serve to remove the objects larger than the sand and salt. Once accomplished, put the remaining mixture into a clear glass tube, and lay it horizontally on a rotating bed and allow it to run at about 10-60 rpm. Shortly you will see it self-divide into alternating rings of salt and sand all down it's length. Separate the rings mechanically (by hand).

The reason salt and sand will self-divide is because the grains have slightly different sizes and friction characteristics, so they sort themselves according to their ability to "flow", rather than similarities. Anything that flows at a different rate is pushed out of the ring to an area where it matches the rate of flow. It makes a very nice classroom demonstration.

Alternately you could "solve" the problem by adding water. Since sand is insoluble, it will remain behind as the salt dissolves. If you need to recover the salt after separation, simply boil the water off and salt will be left as a deposit.

First answer by Sfwriter. Last edit by Sfwriter. Contributor trust: 1 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 2 [recommend question].

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