Which separation method would you use to remove salt from saltwater?

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

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the nature of the mixture: Saltwater is a homogeneous mixture where salt (a solid) is dissolved uniformly in water (a liquid), forming a solution.
2. Evaluate the separation methods: Filtration separates solids from liquids based on particle size, but since salt is dissolved, it cannot be filtered out.
3. Consider chromatography: This technique separates components based on their movement through a medium, typically used for mixtures of different solutes, not for separating dissolved salt from water.
4. Floatation separates substances based on differences in density and buoyancy, which is not applicable here because salt is dissolved and not floating as a separate phase.
5. Distillation is appropriate because it separates components based on differences in boiling points; by heating saltwater, water vaporizes and leaves salt behind, effectively separating the salt from the water.