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Mixtures can be separated using physical methods as discussed in the last section – filtration, chromatography or even using a magnet.
Compounds can not be separated in this way. Compounds can only be separated using chemical methods.
There are three examples of chemical methods to separate compounds that you need to know:
1. Using heat only
2. Heat with carbon
3. Using electricity.
1. Using heat only
1. Using heat only
This method can be used to separate compounds such as silver oxide into its elements.
When black silver oxide is heated strongly in a test tube it produces metallic silver and oxygen gas.
The video below shows silver oxide (the black powder) being heated to produce silver metal. Note there is no sound on this video.
2. Heating with Carbon
2. Heating with Carbon
It is possible to use carbon to extract some metals from their ores.
For example powdered carbon and powdered copper ore can be heated to produce a sample of just copper.
Heat with Carbon
Copper metal is produced
The extraction of copper from copper(II) oxide using heat and carbon is shown in the video clip below.
3. Using Electricity
3. Using Electricity
Electricity can be used to break up certain compounds into their elements.
One example of this is breaking up the compound copper chloride, into its elements, copper and chlorine, using electricity.
The circuit diagram for this process is shown:
The process of breaking up a compound using electricity is called electrolysis.
The video below shows the electrolysis of copper(II) chloride solution
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