Which of the following is an important difference between gravity and vacuum filtration?

• A. Vacuum filtration uses reduced pressure to speed up the separation process, while gravity filtration relies solely on gravity.
• B. Gravity filtration is only used for separating liquids from gases, while vacuum filtration is used for solids from liquids.
• C. Vacuum filtration can only be performed at high temperatures, while gravity filtration is performed at room temperature.
• D. Gravity filtration requires a Büchner funnel, while vacuum filtration uses only filter paper.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the purpose of both gravity filtration and vacuum filtration: both are techniques used to separate solids from liquids in a mixture.
2. Recall that gravity filtration relies on the natural force of gravity to pull the liquid through the filter paper, which can be a slower process.
3. Recognize that vacuum filtration uses a vacuum (reduced pressure) to pull the liquid through the filter paper more quickly, speeding up the separation.
4. Note that gravity filtration typically uses simple filter paper and a funnel, while vacuum filtration often uses a Büchner funnel connected to a vacuum source.
5. Compare the options given and identify that the key difference is the use of reduced pressure in vacuum filtration to speed up the process, whereas gravity filtration depends solely on gravity.