Materials:
- Silicon dioxide (SiO2) and iron sulfide (FeS) mixture
- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution
- Dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution
- Filter paper
- Beakers
- Stirring rod
Procedure:
1. Dissolution in Sodium Hydroxide:
- Take a sample of the SiO2 and FeS mixture in a beaker.
- Add sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution to the mixture.
- Stir the mixture to ensure complete contact between the NaOH solution and the solids.
2. Filtration:
- Filter the mixture using filter paper.
- This step separates the insoluble SiO2 from the soluble FeS.
- The SiO2 will remain on the filter paper, while the FeS will pass through as a solution.
3. Acidification of the FeS Solution:
- Collect the filtrate containing the FeS solution in a clean beaker.
- Add dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution to the FeS solution dropwise while stirring.
- Acidification will cause the FeS to precipitate as a solid.
4. Second Filtration:
- Filter the acidified solution again using filter paper.
- This step separates the precipitated FeS from the remaining solution.
- The FeS will remain on the filter paper, while the impurities will be in the filtrate.
5. Washing and Drying:
- Wash both the SiO2 and FeS precipitates with distilled water to remove any residual impurities.
- Dry the precipitates separately in an oven or under a heat lamp.
By following these steps, you can separate silicon dioxide (SiO2) and iron sulfide (FeS) from their mixture through selective dissolution and filtration.