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Difficulty: MediumSublimation, Magnetization, and Centrifugation

During a quality control procedure in a chemical plant, a liquid sample containing microscopic colloidal solids suspended in a dense solvent is found to pass through filter paper without separating. Which technique utilizes high-speed rotation to exert an enhanced artificial gravitational force, forcing the suspended particles to settle rapidly at the bottom based on particle density?

  1. CentrifugationAnswer
  2. B
    Sublimation
  3. C
    Magnetization
  4. D
    Fractional distillation

Answer

Centrifugation is the physical separation technique that uses rapid spinning to generate centrifugal force, causing dense suspended particles in a liquid medium to settle out rapidly.
Centrifugation is the appropriate technique because rapid rotation generates centrifugal force, accelerating the settling rate of fine, insoluble suspended particles based on density differences when gravity settling or filtration is ineffective.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the physical state of the mixture described in the stem.
The mixture consists of microscopic colloidal solid particles suspended in a liquid medium that cannot be trapped by standard filter paper pores.
Identifying component sizes and physical properties determines the correct separation mechanism.
2
Evaluate the separation principle required for fine suspensions.
When gravity settling is too slow and filtration fails, high-speed rotational motion creates a strong outward centrifugal force that forces dense solid particles to sediment quickly at the tube bottom.
Centrifugation relies on density differences between suspended solids and the surrounding fluid medium under elevated pseudo-gravitational forces.

Key Concept

Centrifugation principles for colloidal suspensions and fine liquid-solid mixtures
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Topics

Sublimation, Magnetization, and Centrifugation