NCERT Class 9 Science Exploring Mixtures and Their Separation Solutions

Short Intro

“Exploring Mixtures and Their Separation” chapter explains different types of mixtures, concentration of solutions, solubility, crystallization, distillation, chromatography, colloids, suspensions, and various separation techniques used in daily life and industries. This chapter is highly important for conceptual understanding and exam preparation. Complete step-by-step solutions are provided below in Unicode format for uploading on www.mymockmate.com.

Quick Information Box

Topic Details
Chapter Name Exploring Mixtures and Their Separation
Subject Science
Grade Class 9
Main Topics Solutions, Colloids, Separation Techniques
Important Concepts Distillation, Crystallization, Tyndall Effect
Exam Importance Very High
Numerical Problems Included

Concepts Used (Topics Covered)

  • Homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures
  • Solutions, suspensions and colloids
  • Concentration of solutions
  • Solubility and saturated solutions
  • Crystallization
  • Distillation and fractional distillation
  • Paper chromatography
  • Separating funnel
  • Sublimation
  • Centrifugation
  • Coagulation
  • Tyndall effect

Important Formulas

Mass by Mass Percentage

%(m/m)=Mass of soluteMass of solution×100\%\,(m/m)=\frac{\text{Mass of solute}}{\text{Mass of solution}}\times100%(m/m)=Mass of solutionMass of solute​×100

Mass by Volume Percentage

%(m/v)=Mass of soluteVolume of solution×100\%\,(m/v)=\frac{\text{Mass of solute}}{\text{Volume of solution}}\times100%(m/v)=Volume of solutionMass of solute​×100

Volume by Volume Percentage

%(v/v)=Volume of soluteVolume of solution×100\%\,(v/v)=\frac{\text{Volume of solute}}{\text{Volume of solution}}\times100%(v/v)=Volume of solutionVolume of solute​×100

Questions & Step-by-step Solutions with Explanation

Question 1

Correct classification of mixtures

Answer

Correct Option: (iv)

Explanation

  • Muddy water → Heterogeneous
  • Milk → Heterogeneous (colloid)
  • Blood → Heterogeneous (colloid)
  • Brass → Homogeneous alloy

Question 2

Which mixtures show Tyndall Effect?

Answer

Correct Option: (iii) a and c

Explanation

  • Air + dust particles → Shows Tyndall effect
  • Starch + water → Colloid, shows Tyndall effect
  • Copper sulfate solution → True solution, no Tyndall effect
  • Acetone + water → Homogeneous solution, no Tyndall effect

Question 3

Complete Table 5.2

Type Properties Examples
Solution Small particles, transparent, does not scatter light Salt solution, Brass
Suspension Large particles, settles down, separable by filtration Sand in water, Mud
Colloid Medium particles, scatters light, does not settle Milk, Smoke, Butter

Question 4 (i)

Cake recipe concentration

Given

Sugar = 75 g
Flour = 420 g
Sodium hydrogencarbonate = 5 g

Total Mass

420+75+5=500g420+75+5=500\,g420+75+5=500g

Sugar concentration

75500×100=15%\frac{75}{500}\times100=15\%50075​×100=15%

Flour concentration

420500×100=84%\frac{420}{500}\times100=84\%500420​×100=84%

Sodium hydrogencarbonate concentration

5500×100=1%\frac{5}{500}\times100=1\%5005​×100=1%

Answer

  • Sugar = 15% m/m
  • Flour = 84% m/m
  • Sodium hydrogencarbonate = 1% m/m

Question 4 (ii)

Brass alloy composition

Given

Copper = 70%

Total brass = 120 g

Copper quantity

70100×120=84g\frac{70}{100}\times120=84\,g10070​×120=84g

Zinc quantity

12084=36g120-84=36\,g120−84=36g

Answer

  • Copper = 84 g
  • Zinc = 36 g

Question 5

Cooking oil and water separation

Answer

Yes, oil forms a separate upper layer because it is less dense than water.

Method Used

Separating funnel

Explanation

  • Water settles at bottom
  • Oil remains on top
  • Open stopcock to separate water first

Question 6

Assertion-Reason

Answer

Correct Option: (iii)

Explanation

Assertion is true because solutions do not scatter light.

Reason is false because solution particles are extremely small.


Question 7

Separation techniques

Mixture Method Reason
Mud from muddy water Filtration Insoluble particles
Plasma from blood Centrifugation Density difference
Naphthalene and sand Sublimation Naphthalene sublimes
Chalk powder and salt Dissolve + filtration + evaporation Salt dissolves
Salt and water Evaporation Water evaporates
Oil and water Separating funnel Immiscible liquids
Flower pigments Chromatography Different movement rates

Question 8

Separation of miscible liquids A and B

Given

  • Boiling point of A = 60°C
  • Boiling point of B = 90°C

Answer

Distillation method is used.

Explanation

Difference in boiling points is 30°C which is greater than 25°C.

Liquid A vaporises first and condenses separately.


Question 9

Comparison

Process Purpose
Evaporation Obtain dissolved solid
Crystallization Obtain pure crystals
Distillation Separate liquids and recover solvent

Preferred Situations

  • Evaporation → Salt from seawater
  • Crystallization → Pure copper sulfate crystals
  • Distillation → Acetone-water separation

Question 10

Blood as colloid

(i) If blood behaved like suspension

Blood cells would settle down causing blockage and improper circulation.

(ii) Components

  • Dispersed phase → Blood cells
  • Dispersion medium → Plasma

Question 11

Correct sequence of techniques

Answer

  1. Sublimation
  2. Dissolution and filtration
  3. Evaporation/crystallization

Explanation

  • Naphthalene separated first by sublimation
  • Salt dissolved in water
  • Sand filtered out
  • Salt recovered by evaporation

Question 12

Why is distillation effective for water and acetone?

Answer

Because their boiling points differ greatly.

  • Acetone boils at 56°C
  • Water boils at 100°C

Acetone vaporises first and gets condensed separately.


Question 13 (i)

Potassium nitrate required

Given

Solubility at 40°C:
62 g per 100 g water

For 50 g water:
62100×50=31g\frac{62}{100}\times50=31\,g10062​×50=31g

Answer

31 g potassium nitrate


Question 13 (ii)

Observation on cooling

Answer

Potassium chloride crystals will separate out because solubility decreases on cooling.


Question 13 (iii)

Effect of temperature

Answer

Solubility generally increases with temperature.

Potassium nitrate shows maximum increase in solubility.


Question 14 (i)

Concentration of sugar solutions

Student A

20100×100=20%\frac{20}{100}\times100=20\%10020​×100=20%

Student B

20120×10016.67%\frac{20}{120}\times100\approx16.67\%12020​×100≈16.67%

Student C

30110×10027.27%\frac{30}{110}\times100\approx27.27\%11030​×100≈27.27%

Answer

  • A = 20%
  • B = 16.67%
  • C = 27.27%

Question 14 (ii)

Most concentrated solution

Answer

Student C’s solution is most concentrated because it has highest percentage of sugar.


Question 15

(i) Technique S

Answer

Distillation

(ii) Apparatus labels

  • A → Thermometer
  • B → Condenser
  • C → Receiver flask

(iii) Mixtures separated

Answer

  • Water–acetone
  • Alcohol–chloroform

Because their boiling points are sufficiently different.


Common Mistakes

  • Confusing colloids with solutions
  • Writing filtration instead of distillation
  • Using wrong percentage formula
  • Forgetting boiling point differences
  • Confusing sublimation with evaporation

Exam Tips

  • Learn all separation methods with examples.
  • Practice numerical problems on concentration.
  • Revise Tyndall effect carefully.
  • Remember examples of colloids and suspensions.
  • Draw labelled diagrams for distillation and separating funnel.

Practice MCQs

1. Which mixture shows Tyndall effect?

A. Sugar solution
B. Salt solution
C. Milk
D. Acetone and water

Answer

C. Milk


2. Which process separates acetone and water?

A. Filtration
B. Distillation
C. Sublimation
D. Sedimentation

Answer

B. Distillation


3. Which substance sublimes?

A. Sand
B. Salt
C. Camphor
D. Chalk powder

Answer

C. Camphor


4. Which method separates plasma from blood?

A. Filtration
B. Distillation
C. Centrifugation
D. Evaporation

Answer

C. Centrifugation


FAQ Section

Q1. What is a homogeneous mixture?

A mixture having uniform composition throughout.

Q2. What is Tyndall effect?

Scattering of light by colloidal particles.

Q3. Which method separates immiscible liquids?

Separating funnel method.

Q4. What is sublimation?

Direct conversion of solid into vapour without becoming liquid.

Q5. Why is distillation used?

To separate miscible liquids with different boiling points.

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