Question

Suppose sodium chloride mixes with Silica (a hard glassy material that does not dissolve in water) Describe a way to remove the sodium chloride

Answer 1

A solid and a liquid mixture is describe here. The best method to separate the solid from the solution is by filtration. Filtration is a unit operation where it involves the separation of solids from the liquid. The size of the pore of the filter and the solids are an important thing to consider here.

Answer 2

Addition of water to the mixture creates a solution of sodium chloride in water with particles of silica.

Filtration of the produced mixture can separate the filtrate (liquid) which is the sodium chloride solution and the solid residue which is the silica in the filter medium.

Decantation or the pouring of the liquid mixture to leave the solid particles behind can also be a way to remove the sodium chloride solution.