NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Chapter 9 Methods of Separation – MyNoteswala

🌾 Q.1. A small amount of puffed rice is mixed with chana dal. Can you think of separating the mixture by any method other than hand-picking?

(Page No. 165)

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Answer: Yes, the mixture can be separated by winnowing.

Since puffed rice is lighter than chana dal, blowing air or using wind separates them easily.
The lighter puffed rice flies away, while the heavier chana dal falls closer to the ground.

💡 Did You Know? Farmers use winnowing to separate grains from husk — a smart way to use wind power in everyday life!

💨 Q.2. Valli is unable to separate husk from rice in a closed room. How can you help her?

(Page No. 166)

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Answer: I would tell Valli to use the method of winnowing even inside the room.

Since there is no natural wind, she can place a fan nearby to blow air.
The light husk will fly away with the moving air, while the heavier rice grains will fall straight down.

💡 Did You Know? Using a fan for air blowing works just like natural wind — a smart way to do winnowing indoors!

🧱 Q.3. Have you ever observed sieves being used at construction sites to separate pebbles and stones from sand?

(Page No. 167)

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Answer: Yes, I have seen sieves being used at construction sites.

Workers pour a mixture of sand and pebbles onto a large wire sieve and shake it gently.
The smaller sand particles pass through the holes of the sieve, while the bigger pebbles and stones stay behind.

💡 Did You Know? This process is called sieving, and it helps get fine sand for making smooth walls and strong buildings!

☀️ Q.4. Have you ever observed white patches on the dark-coloured clothes you wear during hot summers? How are these patches formed?

(Page No. 168)

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Answer: Yes, I have noticed white patches on my dark clothes after sweating.

These patches are formed when sweat evaporates, leaving behind salt and minerals that were dissolved in it.
As the water part of sweat dries up, the white salt crystals remain on the cloth.

💡 Did You Know? Sweat contains mostly water and salt — when the water evaporates, the salt forms white marks on our clothes!

💧 Q.5. Observe the figure carefully. Does it answer the question? Can you name the process involved?

(Page No. 169)

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Answer: Yes, the figure shows how steam from boiling water cools and changes back into liquid water when it touches a cool lid. The water droplets formed on the lid then fall into the container placed nearby.

This process is called condensation.

Explanation:
The kettle heats water, changing it into vapour (evaporation).
The vapour touches the cool lid, loses heat, and becomes liquid water again (condensation).
The collected water in the glass is pure distilled water.

💡 Did You Know? This simple setup shows how rain is formed — water vapour rises, cools, and falls back as rain!

⚗️ Q.6. In the chapter ‘Materials Around Us’, you have studied that oil does not mix with water and forms a separate layer when left undisturbed for some time. Which method of separation would you use to separate oil and water?

(Page No. 170)

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Answer: We can separate oil and water using the method of decantation or a separating funnel.

When the mixture is left undisturbed, the lighter oil forms a layer on top, and the heavier water settles at the bottom.
By gently pouring out the oil layer, the two liquids can be separated easily.

💡 Did You Know? A separating funnel is used in laboratories to separate two immiscible liquids (liquids that don’t mix), like oil and water or kerosene and water!

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✋ Q.1. What purpose does handpicking serve in the process of separation?

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✅ Answer: 👉 (ii) Sorting

💡 Explanation: Handpicking is used to sort out and remove unwanted materials (like stones, insects, or dirt) from useful substances such as grains or pulses. 🌾
It helps in separating different kinds of particles based on shape, size, or appearance.

💡 Did You Know? Handpicking is one of the oldest and simplest methods of separation used in every household before cooking! 🍚👩‍🍳

🌀 Q.2. Which of the following substances are commonly separated using the churning method?

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🧫 Q.3. Which factor is usually essential for filtration?

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✅ Q.4. State whether the following statements are True [T] or False [F]. Also correct the False ones.

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Statement	True/False	Correction (if False)
(i) Salt can be separated from salt solution by keeping it under the Sun.	✅ True	—
(ii) Handpicking should be used only when the quantity of one component is less.	✅ True	—
(iii) A mixture of puffed rice and rice grains can be separated by threshing.	❌ False	It can be separated by winnowing, not threshing.
(iv) A mixture of mustard oil and lemon water can be separated by decantation.	✅ True	—
(v) Sieving is used to separate a mixture of rice flour and water.	❌ False	It can be separated by filtration, not sieving.

💡 Tip: Different separation methods are chosen based on particle size, density, or solubility! ⚖️

🧩 Q.5. Match the mixtures in Column I with their method of separation in Column II.

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Column I	Column II
(i) Gram flour mixed with black gram	(d) Sieving
(ii) Chalk powder mixed with water	(e) Filtration
(iii) Corn mixed with potatoes	(a) Handpicking
(iv) Iron powder mixed with sawdust	(b) Magnetic separation
(v) Oil mixed with water	(c) Decantation

✅ Answer Key: (i)–d, (ii)–e, (iii)–a, (iv)–b, (v)–c

💡 Did You Know? A magnet can easily separate iron particles from mixtures — it’s a fun and fast method! 🧲

⚗️ Q.6. In what situations would you use decantation instead of filtration to separate solids from liquids?

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👃 Q.7. Can you relate the presence of nasal hair to any separation process?

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😷 Q.8. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all of us wore masks. Generally, what material are they made of? What is the role of these masks?

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🥔 Q.9. A mixture containing potatoes, salt, and sawdust is given to you. Outline a stepwise procedure for separating each component.

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Handpick the potatoes first (they are large and easy to remove). 🥔
Add water to the remaining mixture — salt dissolves, but sawdust floats. 💧
Decant the floating sawdust and dry it separately. 🌬️
Evaporate the saltwater to get salt crystals. 🧂

💡 Did You Know? You used four separation methods here: handpicking, decantation, filtration, and evaporation! 🔬

👧 Q.10. Read the following story titled ‘Intelligent Leela’ and tick the most appropriate options. Provide a suitable title of your choice for the paragraph.

Leela was working in the farm with her father when she realised that they left their drinking water at home. Before her father felt thirsty/hungry, she went to the nearby pond to fetch some water/grains. After obtaining some water in the container, she noticed that the water was muddy and fit/unfit for drinking. To purify the water, she kept it for some time and then she filtered/ churned the muddy water using a piece of paper/muslin cloth. Leela, then, cooled/boiled the water for about 10 minutes in a covered pan. After cooling/boiling, she filtered/churned it again and made it fit/unfit for drinking. She served this water to her father while having food, who blessed her and appreciated her efforts.

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✅ Answers:
• Water was muddy and unfit for drinking.
• She used filtration and boiling to purify it.
• After boiling, the water became fit for drinking.

📝 Suitable Title: “Leela’s Smart Way to Clean Water” 💧

💡 Explanation: Leela used sedimentation + filtration + boiling, showing a real-life application of methods of separation for safe water use. 🌿

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