Good Science Victorian Curriculum Year 7

INVESTIGATIONS
Investigation 5.7B
Separating two immiscible liquids
TEACHER DEMONSTRATION
AIM
To investigate using a separating funnel to separate
oil and water
MATERIALS
• 2 × 25 mL measuring cylinders
• oil
• water
• separating funnel
• retort stand with bosshead and clamp
• retort ring
• measuring cylinder
• 2 × 100 mL conical flasks
Oil
Water
Separating
funnel
Conical flask
30 min
METHOD
1 Your teacher will set up the separating equipment
as shown.
2 They will measure 20 mL of water and transfer it
into the separating funnel.
3 Your teacher will measure 20 mL of oil and transfer
it into the separating funnel.
4 They will stopper the funnel and shake it. Next,
they will place the funnel back into the retort ring
and observe the mixture separating. Record your
observations.
5 After two obvious layers have formed, your teacher
will slowly open the tap and collect the bottom liquid
into a flask. Observe the transfer of the contents into
a measuring cylinder and measure the volume of the
liquid collected.
6 Once your teacher pours out the remaining
liquid, measure the volume collected. Record your
observations.
QUESTIONS
1 Describe what happened to the mixture when the
separating funnel was shaken.
2 Explain why the mixture settled out after some time.
3 Consider the volumes you started with for each
liquid and the volumes you recovered at the end.
How would you describe the efficiency of separating
a mixture using a separating funnel?
CONCLUSION
Copy and complete:
‘The results show that: (respond to the aim)’.
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