You are assigned the task of separating a desired granular...

You are assigned the task of separating a desired granular material with a density of $3.62 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{cm}^{3}$ from an undesired granular material that has a density of $2.04 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{cm}^{3}$. You want to do this by shaking the mixture in a liquid in which the heavier material will fall to the bottom and the lighter material will float. A solid will float on any liquid that is more dense. Using an Internet-based source or a handbook of chemistry, find the densities of the following substances: carbon tetrachloride, hexane, benzene, and diiodomethane. Which of these liquids will serve your purpose, assuming no chemical interaction takes place between the liquid and the solids?

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Key Concepts

Buoyancy and Archimedes’ Principle

Buoyancy is the upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an immersed object. According to Archimedes’ principle, an object will float if the buoyant force (related to the fluid’s density and the volume displaced) is greater than or equal to its weight. In separation processes, this principle allows for the distinction between solids based on whether they float or sink in a liquid of a specific density.

Liquid Density Selection for Material Separation

Selecting a liquid for separation involves choosing one whose density lies between the densities of the two materials to be separated. The desired material, being denser than the liquid, will sink, while the less dense material will float. This concept is applied in various separation techniques, ensuring that materials which might have similar sizes and shapes can be effectively segregated based on density differences.

Density

Density is a measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume of a material, usually expressed in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³). It is a fundamental property used to compare different materials and plays a crucial role in determining whether an object will float or sink in a liquid when compared to the liquid's density.

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