Distillation separates a mixture based on differences in:

Answer: Boiling points (vapor pressures) Components with different vapor pressures vaporize and condense at different temperatures; the lower-BP component is enriched in the distillate.

What is the Rf value of the red component?

Answer: 0.70 Rf = distance solute / distance solvent front = 5.6 / 8.0 = 0.70.

Filtration separates a heterogeneous mixture based on

Answer: Particle size — solids retained, liquids pass through Filter paper retains particles too large to pass through pores; fluid (filtrate) passes through.

AP Chemistry · Topic 3.9

Separation of Solutions and Mixtures Practice

Part of Properties of Substances and Mixtures.(SPQ-3.C)

Practice questions

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Sample questions

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Sample 1difficulty 1/5
$Distillation separates a mixture based on differences in:$
- A
  $Density only$
- B
  $Boiling points (vapor pressures)$
  check_circle
- C
  $Solubility in water$
- D
  $Color$
Why
$Components with different vapor pressures vaporize and condense at different temperatures; the lower-BP component is enriched in the distillate.$
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Sample 2difficulty 1/5
$A student spots a black ink sample 1.5 cm from the bottom of a strip of chromatography paper and develops it in 70/30 isopropanol/water. The solvent front travels 8.0 cm from the spot. Three components are observed: blue (3.2 cm), red (5.6 cm), yellow (7.2 cm), all measured from the original spot.$
$What is the Rf value of the red component?$
- A
  $1.43$
- B
  $0.40$
- C
  $5.6$
- D
  $0.70$
  check_circle
Why
$Rf = distance solute / distance solvent front = 5.6 / 8.0 = 0.70.$
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Sample 3difficulty 1/5
$Filtration separates a heterogeneous mixture based on$
- A
  $Density only$
- B
  $Color$
- C
  $Particle size — solids retained, liquids pass through$
  check_circle
- D
  $Boiling point$
Why
$Filter paper retains particles too large to pass through pores; fluid (filtrate) passes through.$
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Sample 4difficulty 2/5
$A student spots a black ink sample 1.5 cm from the bottom of a strip of chromatography paper and develops it in 70/30 isopropanol/water. The solvent front travels 8.0 cm from the spot. Three components are observed: blue (3.2 cm), red (5.6 cm), yellow (7.2 cm), all measured from the original spot.$
$What error is introduced if the original ink spot is below the solvent level when the paper is placed in the developing chamber?$
- A
  $The ink dissolves into the solvent reservoir, distorting or eliminating spots on the paper$
  check_circle
- B
  $The yellow component will appear first instead of last$
- C
  $The solvent will not climb the paper$
- D
  $The Rf values become exactly 1.0 for all components$
Why
$Submerging the spot causes the ink to dissolve into the bulk solvent rather than chromatograph up the paper, ruining the separation.$
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Sample 5difficulty 2/5
$Chromatography separates components by$
- A
  $Differential interaction with a stationary phase and a moving (mobile) phase$
  check_circle
- B
  $Volume$
- C
  $Density$
- D
  $Color only$
Why
$Components that interact more with the stationary phase travel slower. Used to separate complex mixtures (e.g., paint pigments, proteins, drugs).$
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