Separation and purification
12.4What the syllabus asks of you
- Describe and explain methods of separation and purification using: (a) a suitable solvent (b) filtration (c) crystallisation (d) simple distillation (e) fractional distillation
- Suggest suitable separation and purification techniques, given information about the substances involved
- Identify substances and assess their purity using melting point and boiling point information
Read the notes first
Chapter 12: Separation and purification
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Every question on Separation and purification, untimed, marked as you go.
Make a worksheet
Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
23 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q39Show mark scheme →
A1 and 2
B1 and 3
C2 and 4
D3 and 4
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2May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q39Show mark scheme →
Acrystallisation | 125
Bcrystallisation | 115
Cdistillation | 125
Ddistillation | 115
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3May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q38Show mark scheme →
Aburette
Bdistillation apparatus
Cfilter funnel and paper
Dmeasuring cylinder
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4May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q40Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 4
B1 and 2 only
C1, 3 and 4
D3 and 4 only
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5May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q40Show mark scheme →
AX is distilled and the distillate is evaporated to dryness.
BX is filtered and the filtrate is allowed to evaporate to dryness.
CX is filtered and the residue is allowed to evaporate to dryness.
DY is distilled and the distillate is evaporated to dryness.
Mark scheme
6Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q2Show mark scheme →
AThe liquids in X may or may not be miscible (mix with each other).
BX is a mixture that can be separated by distillation.
CX must contain two liquids with boiling points 157 °C and 160 °C.
DX must have been obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum (crude oil).
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7May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q2Show mark scheme →
Acopper(II) sulfate and water — chromatography
Bmethanol and ethanol — evaporation
Coxygen and nitrogen — fractional distillation
Dsand and barium sulfate — filtration
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8May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q2Show mark scheme →
AA mixture of liquids with boiling points which differ by 35 °C can be separated by distillation.
BLocating agents are needed to identify the colours present in ink.
CThe desalination of sea water to produce pure water is achieved by fractional distillation.
DThe Rf value of a dye in a chromatogram can be calculated using the formula: Rf = distance moved by solvent / distance moved by spot
Mark scheme
9Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q1Show mark scheme →
Aburette
Bdistillation apparatus
Cfilter funnel and paper
Dmeasuring cylinder
Mark scheme
10Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q3Show mark scheme →
A1 and 3
B1 and 4
C2 and 3
D2 and 4
Mark scheme
11Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q4Show mark scheme →
Acrystallisation; 115
Bdistillation; 115
Ccrystallisation; 125
Ddistillation; 125
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12May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q3Show mark scheme →
Adissolve in water → distillation → crystallisation
Bdissolve in water → filtration → crystallisation
Cdistillation → crystallisation → heating to remove all water
Dfractional distillation → filtration → heating to remove all water
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13May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q2Also set in May / June 2021 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Aboiling point
Bcolour
Csmell
Dsolubility in water
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14May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q3Show mark scheme →
Acopper sulfate crystals and water — crystallisation
Bethanol and water — evaporation
Csalt and sand — filtration
Dnitrogen and oxygen — fractional distillation
Mark scheme
15May / June 2020 · Paper 11 · Q2Show mark scheme →
A1 and 2
B1 and 4
C2 and 3
D3 and 4
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16May / June 2020 · Paper 11 · Q5Show mark scheme →
AA liquid that boils over a range of temperatures may still be 100% pure.
BAn insoluble substance may be separated from water by crystallisation.
CChromatography may only be used to separate coloured substances.
DLiquid air can be fractionally distilled, giving oxygen as one of the products.
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17May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q5Show mark scheme →
A1 and 2
B1 and 3
C2 and 3
D3 and 4
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18Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q2Show mark scheme →
Acrystallisation
Bevaporation
Cfiltration
Dfractional distillation
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19Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q2Show mark scheme →
ASubstance 1 is the only pure substance.
BSubstance 3 and substance 4 are impure.
CSubstance 4 is water.
DThey are all solids at room temperature.
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20May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q2Also set in May / June 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Acalcium carbonate and sodium chloride
Bmagnesium and iron
Csodium chloride and copper(II) sulfate
Dsulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid
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21Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q1Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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22May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q3Show mark scheme →
AIt boils over a range of temperatures.
BIt burns in excess oxygen to form carbon monoxide and water only.
CIt mixes with water.
DIt melts at a fixed temperature.
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23Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q4Show mark scheme →
AThey are both flammable.
BThey are both liquids.
CThey have very similar boiling points.
DThey mix with each other completely.
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