Which method is most suitable for separating a solid that is dissolved in water?

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

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the nature of the mixture: a solid dissolved in water forms a homogeneous solution, meaning the solid is completely dissolved and not visible as separate particles.
2. Evaluate the separation methods: Filtration works for separating insoluble solids from liquids, but not for dissolved solids because the solid passes through the filter.
3. Distillation separates components based on differences in boiling points, typically used for liquid-liquid mixtures or to separate a solvent from a solution by boiling and condensing the vapor.
4. Chromatography separates components based on their movement through a medium and is mainly used for mixtures of dissolved substances, often for analysis rather than bulk separation.
5. Evaporation is suitable here because it removes the solvent (water) by heating, leaving the dissolved solid behind as a residue, effectively separating the solid from the solution.