Question

Give at least one example from industry where a mixture must be separated in order to obtain the materials that are useful to society.

Answer 1

The answer is; crude oil and iron ore

Iron ore is used to make steel (mainly Fe). However, the raw material contains a mixture of impurities such as pyrite and apatite that have to be removed. Crude oil also includes a mixture of different hydrocarbon and other impurities. Impurities such as water have to be removed and the hydrocarbon distilled to separate them.