Year 9 · Science
Separating mixtures in Year 9 Science
Start here
Focus on separating mixtures distillation and chromatography. Open support for “Explain Fractional Distillation”, then explain the idea in your own words.
Understand the key idea
The right separation method depends on the property that differs between the substances. Filtration separates an insoluble solid from a liquid by particle size. Crystallisation and simple distillation both use boiling point, but distillation keeps the solvent. Fractional distillation separates liquids with different boiling points, and chromatography separates by how strongly substances are attracted to the paper compared with the solvent.
Common mix-up
Filtration cannot separate a dissolved solid from its solution. A dissolved solid passes straight through the filter paper because it has broken into particles far smaller than the pores.
Try this first
- Match each mixture to the method that would separate it, and say which property you used.
- Explain why salt cannot be filtered out of salt water.
- Justify using fractional rather than simple distillation for two liquids.
Ask: Salt water goes straight through filter paper — so how would you get the salt back?
Year 9 learners practise separating mixtures distillation and chromatography.
The activities include Explain Fractional Distillation, Learn About Chromatography, Learn About Crystallisation, and related practice. The checked support below includes video, worksheet, teaching, lesson. Open a resource in its provider's website and choose the format that best helps the learner explain the idea independently.
Activities covered
Finish one activity, then tap Done to earn one Den Drop ticket. You can earn up to 3 tickets each day.
- Explain Fractional Distillation — support from Oak National Academy
- Learn About Chromatography — support from Oak National Academy
- Learn About Crystallisation — support from Oak National Academy
- Learn About the Process of Crystallisation — support from Oak National Academy
- Revise Different Methods of Separating Mixtures — support from YouTube — Next Generation Science
- Understand Fractional Distillation — support from Oak National Academy
Share this topic
Share this page with another parent, carer or learner. No personal details are added.
Choose a learning resource
Start with an explanation, then practise, then print. Labels show access and review status before you click.
What the icons and labels mean
Formats
Watch — a video explanation
Learn — a lesson or teaching page to read and work through
Practise — questions or activities to try
Print — a worksheet you can print
Cost and account
Free no payment or account needed for this resource
Free account needed no payment needed, but the provider asks you to create an account
Subscription part of a paid plan on that site
Check access access has not yet been confirmed, so it appears only under Everything
Review status
Verified match checked against this topic, with a visible check date
Reviewed, not fully verified reviewed, with some checks still outstanding
Awaiting review still waiting for review
Tell us how it went
This helped · Link or access problem · Not the right match
We show a free label only after checking the resource's own page. Access can vary by resource. Unconfirmed access appears only under Everything.
Watch it explained
watch a video explanation
Distillation: practical
Best for: a clear explanation before you practise
Chromatography
Best for: a clear explanation before you practise
Separating a soluble solid from a liquid
Best for: a clear explanation before you practise
Separating Solutions – Distillation
Best for: a clear explanation before you practise
Nothing in this step matches your filters.
Learn it properly
lessons and teaching pages
Separation techniques: lesson sequence
Best for: worked examples and step-by-step teaching
Nothing in this step matches your filters.
Practise it
questions and activities to try
Nothing in this step matches your filters.
Print and finish
worksheets away from the screen
Pure and impure substances - KS3 Chemistry
Best for: pencil-and-paper practice away from the screen
Nothing in this step matches your filters.