Separating Solid from Liquid

Sedimentation and Decantation:

• The process in which the heavier component of the mixture settles down when water is added to it is known as sedimentation.
• Decantation is the process of separating clean water from the dust which has settled down.
• This method can also be used to separate two liquids which are not soluble in each other eg. oil and water.

Filtration

• This method is used to separate insoluble impurities from water or any other liquid.
• The liquid is passed through a filter paper.  
• Solid particles are not able to pass through it and remain on the filter paper.

Evaporation

• It is the process of conversion of water into its vapor .
• Salt is separated from the sea water by using this method.

Note:

• Usually one one method is not sufficient to separate the components of a mixture and a series of methods are required. 
• For example if we need to remove impurities from water by the process of evaporation and we also require the liquid, a process called condensation is also carried out.
• Condensation is the process of conversion of water vapor to water by cooling.