NCERT Solutions Class 6 Science Chapter 9 - Methods of Separation in Everyday Life

Many materials around us are mixtures that need to be separated to make them useful. This chapter explains different methods used to separate substances, such as handpicking, sieving, winnowing, filtration, evaporation, and sedimentation. Students learn how these techniques help separate useful components from unwanted materials in daily activities like cooking, farming, and cleaning.

The NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science Chapter 9 help students understand these concepts through clear explanations and step-by-step answers to textbook questions. These solutions make it easier to grasp separation techniques, practice important problems, and strengthen conceptual understanding for exams.

1.0NCERT Solutions Class 6 Science Chapter 9: Methods of Separation in Everyday Life - Download PDF

The NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science Chapter 19 are available here. Download the free PDF of the NCERT Solutions from below:

2.0Key Concepts in Chapter 9 Methods of Separation

The chapter "Methods of separation in everyday life" in the NCERT textbook adds to the students' knowledge on a variety of methods used for the separation of substances from mixtures.  It covered importance and uses of separation methods in everyday life themselves. 

Introduction of Separation: In the beginning of the chapter, separation of substances is introduced with an explanation of why it is necessary in everyday life many times to retrieve a useful substance or separate out a harmful or unwanted substance. Common Mixtures: The chapter, introduces mixtures and gave examples of types of mixtures people deal with every day (e.g., rice and stones, sand and water, tea leaves and tea). Different methods of separation: The main components of the chapter addressed the different methods of separation; it was this section of the chapter that explained some simple and useful methods of separation and explained the principle behind each method.

• Handpicking: Used for separating slightly larger impurities like stones from rice, pulses, or cereals.
• Threshing: A method to separate grains from stalks (e.g., paddy, wheat).
• Winnowing: Used to separate heavier and lighter components of a mixture by wind or by blowing air (e.g., separating husk from grains).
• Sieving: Used to separate components of different sizes using a sieve (e.g., separating flour from bran, pebbles from sand).
• Sedimentation: The process by which insoluble, heavier components in a liquid settle down.
• Decantation: The process of pouring out the clear liquid without disturbing the settled solid.
• Filtration: A method to separate insoluble solids from a liquid using a filter (e.g., making tea, purifying water).
• Evaporation: The process of converting a liquid into its gaseous state, used to separate soluble solids from liquids (e.g., obtaining salt from seawater).
• Condensation: The process of conversion of water vapour into its liquid form, often discussed in conjunction with evaporation for obtaining both components of a solution.

Here are some common subtopics covered in this chapter:

• Why do we need to separate substances?
• Methods of separation
• How are these methods used in our daily life?
• Soluble and Insoluble Substances

3.0NCERT Solutions Class 6 Science Chapter 9 : Detailed Solutions

• What purpose does handpicking serve in the process of separation? (1) Filtration (2) Sorting (3) Evaporation (4) Decantation Ans. (2) Sorting
• Which of the following substances are commonly separated using the churning method? (1) Oil from water (2) Sand from water (3) Cream from milk (4) Oxygen from air Ans. (3) Cream from milk
• Which factor is usually essential for the filtration? (1) Apparatus size (2) presence of air (3) Pore size (4) Temperature of the mixture Ans. (3) Pore size
• State with reason(s) whether the following statements are True [T] or False [F]. Also, correct the False statement(s). (1) Salt can be separated from salt solution by keeping it under the sun. Ans. True (2) Handpicking should be used only when the quantity of one component is less. Ans. True (3) A mixture of puffed rice and rice grains can be separated by threshing. Ans. False A mixture of puffed rice and rice grains can be separated by winnowing. (4) A mixture of mustard oil and lemon water can be separated by decantation. Ans. True (5) Sieving is used to separate a mixture of rice flour and water. Ans. False Filtration is used to separate a mixture of rice flour and water.

Ans. A - (iv), B - (v), C - (i), D - (ii), E - (iii)

• In what situations would you used decantation instead of filtration to separation solids from liquids? Ans. Decantation is used when the solid particles are heavy and settle down at the bottom of the container, allowing the clear liquid to be poured off without disturbing the solid sediment. For example, separating sand from water.
• Can you relate the presence of nasal hair to any separation process? Ans. Nasal hair acts like a natural filter, trapping dust, pollen, and other particles from the air we breathe, similar to how a filtration process works to remove solid impurities from a liquid.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, all of us wore masks. Generally, what material are they made of? What is the role of these masks? Ans. Masks are generally made of multiple layers of fabric or materials such as cotton, polypropylene, or polyester. Their role is to filter out harmful particles, including viruses, from the air we breathe, similar to how filtration processes work to remove impurities from liquids.
• A mixture containing potatoes, salt and sawdust has been given to you. Outline a stepwise procedure for separating each component from this mixture. Ans. Step 1: Handpick the potatoes out of the mixture. Step 2: Add water to the remaining mixture to dissolve the salt. Step 3: Filter the mixture to separate the sawdust from the salt solution. Step 4: Evaporate the water from the salt solution to obtain the salt.

4.0Key Features of NCERT Solutions Class 6 Science Chapter 9: Methods of Separation in Everyday Life

• Clear Explanation of Separation Techniques: Covers various methods like filtration, sieving, handpicking, decantation, and evaporation with simple definitions and real-life examples.
• Everyday Relevance: Links scientific concepts to common household activities like separating tea leaves, grains, or removing impurities from water.
• Helps Build Scientific Thinking: Encourages observation and reasoning by showing how separation is essential in our daily lives.
• Supports Exam Preparation: Tailored to CBSE exam patterns and language, helping students answer textbook and exam questions effectively.
• Boosts Conceptual Clarity: Helps students understand the ‘why’ behind each method, promoting deeper understanding rather than rote learning.