what is is sedimentation and decantation?
Answers
Answer:
Sedimentation is a process of settling down of the heavier particles present in a liquid mixture. ... Decantation is the process of separating liquid components of a mixture while the solid component has settled at the bottom as sediments, that is, transferring a liquid from another container.
Sedimentation
It is defined as the separation process in which solids are separated from the liquid. All the solids settle down at the bottom of a beaker and on top, a clear layer of liquid is obtained. Sedimentation is a process by which heavier impurities present in liquid normally water settle down at the bottom of the container containing the mixture. The process takes some amount of time.
Example
Water treatment plants use the method of sedimentation to filter out unwanted particles from unclean water.
Decantation
It is defined as the separation process in which two immiscible liquids are separated. This is done by pouring out the clear upper layer of liquid. Separation of a mixture of oil from water is an example of decantation.
Example
This process can also be used to separate two liquids that do not mix e.g., oil and water. When we leave the mixture of oil and water, two separate layers are formed, with water at the bottom and oil, being lighter, at the top. We can remove the oil layer from the top by pouring it into another vessel, which leaves us with the water layer at the bottom.