How Salt can be separated from a Solution of Water - Essay Example

How Salt can be separated from a Solution of Water Sodium chloride that is referred to as a common saltis made up of an ionic compound of sodium and chlorine ions through ionic bonding. It exists in solid form and an aqueous state when dissolved in a given solvent, like water. The salt disintegrates wholly when dissolved. The salt dissolves in water depending on the proportionality of the solvent. In the scientific report below, using simple apparatus and method of evaporation, separation of salt from a solution of water was determined. The salts crystallized after the water evaporated from the pan and as a result of continued crystallization, solid particles of the salts were obtained. It was concluded that sodium chloride disintegrates in water to sodium and chlorine ions that are surrounded by polar water molecules. This allows dehydration of the compound NaCl•2H2O to form crystals of salts. The compound salt has many usages from the different fields of science, agriculture, industries and domestically as a food additive. Introduction Salt, which is a naturally occurring mineral and having the principal component as sodium chloride, has many uses both industrially and domestically. NaCl is a common salt, and it has an ionic compound formed as a result of gaining and sharing of electrons by sodium ions and chloride ions. The salt is responsible for the sea water salinity and in organisms that are multicellular, the salt forms the extracellular fluid required in cell activities (King 28). The salt was anciently used as a form of currency in some of the cultures as a result of its cost especially when salt trade was of importance in the Mediterranean times. Domestically, the salt id edible is it adds taste to almost all meals consumed in the human diet. Additionally, the salt is used as a food preservative and as a condiment (DeSimone 55). Lastly, the salt is used industrially in extractions of different types of compounds like chlorine and sodium in chemical synthesis. This report explains the method in which a dissolved salt, NaCl can be separated from water using the solar method process. The process of evaporation is involved since water will be get rid of leaving behind the salt (Frossard & Lynn 13330). Materials The following materials were used in the experiment: A medium size baking sheet, the sample of salt of approximately 50g. Additionally, water that was clean and pure was used of approximately 100ml in a clean beaker. A sheet of black paper was used which was medium in size and good condition. Lastly, a cooking pot was used in the experiment. Procedure Sample of salt was mixed with water in a proper proportion in the cooking pot provided so as to dissolve all the salt contents fully. This was major to make a solution of salt and water which was relatively concentrated. The black paper was then laid on the given baking sheet that provided a larger surface area during the evaporation process. The solution of the salt water was then poured on the back sheet having the baking sheet on it. The solution was spread to cover the entire sheet of the black paper. The baking sheet was then set in a warm place on a table just outside the working room free from windy conditions but directly to sunlight availability. The setup was then left in the sun for a number of days with all the water in the solution dried up. After which the observations were made, and results taken. Results After some days, the content in the cooking pot reduced. All the water in the solution evaporated from the cooking pot and salt crystals left at the bottom end of the pot and also along its walls. No effect was observed on the baking sheets and the black paper. Discussion The black sheet was used since it is a good light absorbance of any visible light of all frequencies present. It thus helps in the energizing the water molecules as they will evaporate from the pan as the hotness intensifies (King 44). The pan was placed in a warm place and free from destructions of sunlight because evaporation is faster in open air place. During evaporation of water, salt remains behind as crystals and, therefore, its concentration increases. After some time, concentration of the salt increases and the water gets supersaturated and as result, the salts recrystallize into solid particles. Salt is thus obtained after evaporation of water in the solution. The same process of separation is applied on large scale extractions. The most common method is applied when seawater is allowed to flow through open channels into the shallow beds that are flat and are sealed off. Water gets heated from the heat of sunlight until it all evaporates and, as a result, huge particles of salt are left behind. Salt is then cleaned after collection and packed for different usage in fields of agriculture, industries and domestically (Frossard & Lynn 13330) . Conclusion Sodium chloride, when dissolved in water, will have its framework disintegrated to sodium ions Na+ and chloride ions, Cl-. The ions then get surrounded by polar molecules of water. The solution comprises of an aqueous metal complex compound with formula [Na (H2O)8]+. The bond is strong between the sodium and oxygen molecules and also solvated strongly in the chloride ions as they are averagely surrounded each by six molecules of water (Benjamin 67). King (34) further explains that the sodium chloride solution has different varying properties from any pure water. The boiling point of a salt solution that is saturated is about 108.70 C. The solutions where the there is no boiling, as in the experiment done above, crystallization of salts dehydrates as a compound NaCl•2H2O. Acknowledgement I would like to appreciate my professor for the knowledge inflicted on me on the field of science with regards to the application of this type of scientific experiment. Furthermore, I would like to thank the laboratory technician for the assistance offered when carrying out the experiment right from the initial process to the end results. Literature cited Benjamin, Mark M. Water chemistry. Waveland Press, 2014. DeSimone, John A., et al. "Sodium in the food supply: challenges and opportunities." Nutrition reviews 71.1 (2013): 52-59. Frossard, Amanda A., and Lynn M. Russell. "Removal of sea salt hydrate water from seawater- derived samples by dehydration." Environmental science & technology 46.24 (2012): 13326-13333. King, C. Judson. Separation processes. Courier Corporation, 2013. Read More