A student has a sample of an insoluble solid and a liquid. The task is to separate the mixture into its pure components. What question is best asked in the design of the experiment to determine how to separate the components?

Question

Responses
A Is the solid/liquid mixture toxic in its combined form?Is the solid/liquid mixture toxic in its combined form?
B Is the solid large enough to be caught by the pores of a filter?Is the solid large enough to be caught by the pores of a filter?
C Is the melting temperature of the solid lower than that of the liquid?Is the melting temperature of the solid lower than that of the liquid?
D Can the solid be crushed into smaller particles to allow for distillation?

Answer 1

The best question to ask in the design of the experiment to determine how to separate the components is:

B: Is the solid large enough to be caught by the pores of a filter?

This question addresses the fundamental separation technique that could be used: filtration. If the solid particles are large enough, they can be effectively separated from the liquid by passing the mixture through a filter. The other options pertain to other methods of separation that may not be applicable or necessary given the nature of the mixture described.