Explore important questions, activity-based learning, and worksheet answers from NCERT Class 6 Science (Curiosity) Chapter on Separation of Substances. Learn key methods like filtration, decantation, sieving, magnetic separation, evaporation, and more.
🧩 Methods of Separation in Everyday Life 🧩
Join Malli and Valli on their summer vacation adventure across India!
🌞 Summer Vacation Begins!
Malli and Valli are excited for their summer vacations! Their parents have planned a trip to visit relatives across India. Do you also keep in touch with your loved ones?
Kabir’s Wisdom: “Just like winnowing makes the husk blow away while retaining the grains, similarly, sages let virtues stay while discarding vices.”
🚜 First Stop: Nani’s House in Haryana
Malli and Valli see grains piled in the courtyard. Their Mami and Mama are busy separating stones and husk from grains.
Handpicking Challenge! ✋
Nani gives them a challenge: “Pick small stones from grains with eyes closed!”
Science Fact: Handpicking works when particles differ in size, color, or shape.
Threshing in the Fields 🌾
They see farmers beating wheat stalks on wooden logs to separate grains.
New Word: Threshing = separating grains from stalks.
🔍 Activity: Winnowing Like Farmers
Try this:
- Take roasted peanuts and rub between palms
- Try blowing – what happens?
- Observe which parts blow away (lighter husk stays!)
Farmer’s Secret: They use a soop (bamboo tray) to separate grains from husk with wind!
🚂 Next Stop: Ahmedabad!
At Ghanshyam bhai’s house, they learn about:
- Sieving: Removing bran from flour using a sieve 🕳️
- Salt Making: How seawater evaporates to leave salt ☀️
🧪 Salt Separation Experiment
Materials: Bowl, water, salt, black paper
Steps:
- Make salt water solution
- Put drops on black paper
- Let dry – see salt crystals form! ✨
☕ Puducherry Tea Time
Learned about:
- Sedimentation: Tea leaves settling 🍃
- Decantation: Pouring without disturbing 🫖
- Filtration: Using strainers/filter paper 🧻
🧲 Madhya Pradesh Magnet Fun
Helped carpenter separate:
- Iron nails from sawdust using magnet
- Learned about magnetic separation
📋 Methods of Separation Summary
| Method | Used For | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Handpicking | Large visible differences | Removing stones from rice |
| Winnowing | Light vs heavy particles | Separating husk from grains |
| Filtration | Insoluble solids from liquids | Making clear tea |
🤔 Think About It!
1. Why can’t we use sieving to separate salt from water?
2. How is nasal hair like a natural filter?
3. What separation method do washing machines use?
🌟 Malli and Valli’s trip taught us: Separation methods are everywhere in daily life!
Try spotting 3 separation methods in your kitchen today! 🍳
Class 6 Science – Methods of Separation (2025–26)
🧠 Q1. What purpose does handpicking serve in the process of separation?
Answer: (ii) Sorting ✅
🧈 Q2. Which of the following substances are commonly separated using the churning method?
Answer: (iii) Cream from milk ✅
🔍 Q3. Which factor is usually essential for filtration?
Answer: (iii) Pore size ✅
✔️ Q4. True or False? Correct the False ones.
- (i) Salt can be separated from salt solution by keeping it under the Sun. [True ✅]
- (ii) Handpicking should be used only when the quantity of one component is less. [True ✅]
- (iii) A mixture of puffed rice and rice grains can be separated by threshing. [False ❌]
✔️ Correct: It can be separated by winnowing or handpicking. - (iv) A mixture of mustard oil and lemon water can be separated by decantation. [True ✅]
- (v) Sieving is used to separate a mixture of rice flour and water. [False ❌]
✔️ Correct: Filtration is used, not sieving.
🔗 Q5. Match the mixtures in Column I with their method of separation in Column II
| Column I | Column II |
|---|---|
| (i) Gram flour mixed with black gram | (d) Sieving ✅ |
| (ii) Chalk powder mixed with water | (e) Filtration ✅ |
| (iii) Corn mixed with potatoes | (a) Handpicking ✅ |
| (iv) Iron powder mixed with sawdust | (b) Magnetic separation ✅ |
| (v) Oil mixed with water | (c) Decantation ✅ |
💧 Q6. When would you use decantation instead of filtration?
Answer: Decantation is preferred when the solid particles are heavy and settle quickly (e.g., mud in water). It’s faster and requires no filter paper. Filtration is used for finer particles.
👃 Q7. Can you relate the presence of nasal hair to any separation process?
Answer: Yes, nasal hairs filter dust particles from the air we breathe – similar to **filtration**, where solid impurities are trapped before air enters the lungs.
😷 Q8. What are masks made of and what is their role (COVID-19 example)?
Answer: Masks are made of fine cotton, polyester, or non-woven fabric. They act like **filters** to trap viruses, bacteria, and dust, preventing them from entering the nose or mouth.
🥔 Q9. How will you separate potatoes, salt, and sawdust from a mixture?
Answer – Stepwise Procedure:
- Use **handpicking** to remove large potatoes.
- Add water – salt dissolves, sawdust floats.
- Use **decantation or filtration** to remove floating sawdust.
- **Evaporate** water to obtain salt crystals.
👧 Q10. Read the story and tick the correct options. Suggest a title.
Title Suggestion: “Leela the Water Saver”
- … she realised that they left their drinking water at home. ✅
- … to fetch some water. ✅
- … the water was muddy and unfit for drinking. ✅
- … she filtered the muddy water using a piece of muslin cloth. ✅
- … she boiled the water for about 10 minutes. ✅
- … After boiling, she filtered it again. ✅
- … and made it fit for drinking. ✅
Moral: Simple knowledge of separation techniques like sedimentation, filtration, and boiling can help us stay healthy and safe.
📘 Source: Class 6 Science NCERT (Curiosity 2025–26) – Chapter: Methods of Separation in Everyday Life
