Question

How to separate magnesium hydroxide from a mixture of magnesium hydroxide and zinc

Answer 1

Answer:

Add more hydroxide (NaOH). The zinc will form the zincate (Zn(OH)[math]_4^{2-}[/math]) and go into solution leaving the magnesium hydroxide untouched. If you filter off (or simply decant) the liquid containing the zinc, all you will have left is solid magnesium hydroxide. If you want to recover the zinc, just acidify the decanted solution with HCl until solid zinc hydroxide reappears.

Answer 2

★$\huge\mathtt\pink{Answer}$

• Add more hydroxide (NaOH). The zinc will form the zincate (Zn(OH)) and go into solution leaving the magnesium hydroxide untouched. If you filter off (or simply decant) the liquid containing the zinc, all you will have left is solid magnesium hydroxide. If you want to recover the zinc, just acidify the decanted solution with HCl until solid zinc hydroxide reappears.