How do you isolate NaCl from a mixture?

1. Dissolution:

- Dissolve the mixture containing NaCl in an appropriate solvent, such as water or an alcohol-water mixture. Ensure the solvent dissolves the NaCl but not any impurities present.

2. Filtration:

- Filter the dissolved mixture using filter paper or a suitable filter to remove any insoluble impurities. This step removes any solid particles that are not NaCl.

3. Evaporation:

- Heat the filtered solution in a suitable container to evaporate the solvent. Continue heating until most of the solvent has evaporated, leaving behind NaCl crystals.

4. Recrystallization (Optional):

- Recrystallization can further purify the NaCl by dissolving it again in a minimum amount of a hot solvent and then cooling the solution slowly. As the solution cools, the NaCl will recrystallize, while impurities may remain dissolved.

5. Filtration and Drying:

- After recrystallization (or direct evaporation), filter the NaCl crystals from the cooled solution.

- Wash the crystals with a small amount of cold solvent to remove any remaining impurities.

- Finally, dry the NaCl crystals thoroughly using methods such as air-drying or oven-drying at a low temperature.

By following these steps, relatively pure NaCl can be obtained from a mixture.