You are assigned the task of separating a desired granular material, with a density of 3.26 g/cm3, from an undesired granular ma
terial that has a density of 2.04 g/cm3. You want to do this by shaking the mixture in a liquid. A solid will float on any liquid that is more dense. Using an Internet-based source, find the densities of the following substances: carbon tetrachl oride, hexane, benzene, and diiodomethane. Which of these liquids will serve your purpose, assuming no chemical interaction between the liquid and the solids?
The densities of each of the liquids mentioned in the question are stated below;
CCl4- 1.59 g/cm^3
Hexane- 0.672 g/cm^3
Benzene- 0.8765 g/cm^3
Diiodomethane- 3.3 g/cm^3
Clearly, the density of diiodomethane methane is almost the same as that of the desired granular material, hence the undesired granular material having a density of 2.04 g/cm3 will float in diiodomethane thus separating the two granular materials.
It is true that substances that have a high melting point and conduct electricity in the liquid phase are ionic substances, and if one of your options is NaCl, then that is the correct answer.
