Question

differentiate between sedimentation and decantation

Answer 1

Decantation  refers  to  the  process  of  seperating  mixtures  by  removing  a  layer  of  liquid.
Sedimentation  refers  to  the  process  of  settling  down  of  heavy  solids in  a  mixture  of  an   insoluble  liquid   and    a  liquid  .

Answer 2

Explanation :

The difference between the sedimentation and decantation are :

Sedimentation : It is a process where the heavier components which are present in a solution, settle down at the bottom of the container.

For example : When the mixture of sand and water is taken and it is allowed to undisturbed the solution for some time, we observed that the sand settles at the bottom of the container.

Decantation : It is a process of separating the two immiscible liquid or a process of separating the liquid portion from a solution when the heavier components present in the solution are settles at the bottom as a sediments. Or we can say that the process of transferring the liquid from one to another without disturbing them, it is settle down at the bottom of the container.

For example : When a mixture of sand and water is allowed to stand, we observed that the sand settles at the bottom of a container since it is heavier and water is present in the upper portion of the container since it is lighter than the sand. This can be separated simply by pouring in a different container without using any other separating device.