Which of the following methods can be used to obtain pure water from a mixture of sand, water and methanoic acid?
netralization with NaOHfoolowed by filtration
neutralization with NaOH followed by distillation
fractional distillation
filtration followed by distillation
Explanation
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Discussions (19)
D is correct
U filter of sand by filtration nd then seperate water nd methanoic acid by distillation but because they have close boiling point fractional distillation is used
B is good
Methanoic acid and water has almost same biiling point..
Note that neutralizing Methanoic acid with NaOH doesn't mean that u're separating it using chemical properties... Nahhhh.. That's a chemical reaction on it's own. Not a chemical property
Therefore, Neutralizing with NaOH forms a salt, HCOONa (sodium methanoate).
The salt mixes with water to form a solution of HCOONa and Water...
NB: Distillation is a separation technique used in separating two miscible liquids...
But, the main use of Distillation is to obtain a solvent from a solution 
... By Distillation, water is removed as the Distillate and goes over to condense , leaving behind the salt(HCOONa) and sand
Note that the question didn't ask u to separate, all of them i.e, "to separate a mixture of sand, water and methanoic acid".. NO
The question said "to obtain pure WATER"
Therefore, sand and salt(or acid) are not ur focus here, but the water is...
In conclusion, the answer is, Neutralization with NaOH followed by Distillation
Option B
ACCORDING TO NEWSCHOOL 2016th edition
Fractional distillation is used to separate miscible liquids with close boiling point
So the Separating methods should be
Filtration of the solution to have water & methanoic acid then fractional distillation to separate this component
but Remix said mixing with NaOH to form HCOONa .. 
but I think they are wrong cause separation is based on their physical properties nt chemical ..
long story cut short they is no certified answer to this question but in cases of Nigeria exams like UTME & Post jamb i advice you go for D
Aiwansedo Etionsa (Demigod)
the correct Option is B. Reasons is that methanoic acid is a volatile liquid which can evaporate easily. Neutralization of Sodium hydroxide is to be added first which gives sodium ethanoate(soluble) and water
HCOOH+NaOH=HCOONa+H²O
Methanoic acid having a BP of 100.8°c while boiling point of water is 200°c. This is within a close range there fractional distillation can't be used. Option A is wrong because when filtration is done when sand is the residue followed by distillation, what happens with the methanoic acid which is there
Neutralization with NaOH followed by distillation because
HCOONa has a high boiling point which is ehy distillation is done after rather than fitration.
this is confusing this same question was reconstructed in this app and the answer in that one says A
and this one is saying D
please@ myschool can you review this question again 🙏
B is correct
methanoic acid and water are azeotropic i.e both will evaporate the same time.
you need to add something to methanoic acid to change the boiling point.
Neutralization with NaoH for instance will lead to formation of Sodium methanoate and it'll no longer be azeotropic to water.
you can now distill the water and sodium methanoate salt formed, salt is not volatile and it'll be left at the bottom of the container while pure water evaporate and will be collected.
NB: they said pure water, even if sand settle at the bottom, it's of no use. so filtration isn't supposed to be your number one reason while selecting your options.
They expect you to know that you'll filter.
B. Neutralization>>distillation
