Which method would be most effective for separating a mixture of sugar dissolved in water?

• A. Floatation
• B. Evaporation
• C. Distillation
• D. Filtration

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the components of the mixture: sugar dissolved in water forms a homogeneous solution, meaning sugar molecules are evenly distributed at the molecular level in water.
2. Understand the separation methods: Filtration separates solids from liquids but cannot separate dissolved substances; Floatation separates based on density differences, which is not applicable here; Distillation separates liquids based on boiling points but is more complex for this case.
3. Recognize that evaporation involves heating the solution to remove water as vapor, leaving the dissolved sugar behind as a solid residue.
4. Conclude that evaporation is the most effective method because it directly removes the solvent (water) and recovers the solute (sugar) without requiring complex equipment.
5. Summarize that evaporation is preferred for separating a dissolved solid from a liquid when the solid does not evaporate with the solvent.