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Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

What is a Separating Funnel?

A separating funnel is a glass funnel with a tap at the bottom.
A separating funnel is a separation technique that is used for
two liquids that do not dissolve in each other.
Liquids that do not dissolve in each other are called immiscible.


How is a Separating Funnel used?

The mixture of liquids is placed inside the separating funnel
and a container is put beneath.
The liquid with the lower density floats on top.

  

When the tap is opened, the liquid with the higher density
starts to flow through the separating funnel into the container.
The tap is then closed just before the
liquid with the lower density starts to flow through.
The liquid with the lower density remaining in
the separating funnel  can then be drained into
a different container to separate the two liquids.


Liquids that dissolve in each other
can be separated by fractional distillation.

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