Question

How can a solute be separated from a solution?

Answer 1

Just remember that solution is a homogeneous mixture. It has only one phase. Understand it in this way-suppose you have a solution of sugar and water and you need to take out sugar from the solution then you will probably prefer to heat the solution.

Complete answer:
A solution is a homogenous mixture of one or more solutes dissolved in a solvent. In a solution, the individual components cannot be distinguished. Solutions can be called liquid mixtures. But it is a homogeneous mixture. The solvent is the medium where the solute is dissolved. Usually, the amount of solvent is greater than that of the solute. You can take the example of salt and water. Where water acts as a solvent so it is in greater amounts and salt is the solute that is in a smaller amount.
Separation of solute from the solvent cannot be done by filtration. This is because the solution is a homogenous mixture of solute and solvent, so filtration cannot be performed. Thus for separating solute from the solution we can use the evaporation process. By using the evaporation method, the solvent can be evaporated, that is it will change its form from liquid to gaseous on heating, and thus we will be left out with the solute. Evaporation can be considered a great method for separating solute from solution.
The filtration process is used only on heterogeneous solutions or mixtures. In such mixtures, the composition of the components is not uniform throughout. And they have more than one phase.

Note:
The mixture is different from the solution. Solutions are usually homogenous but mixtures are homogeneous as well as heterogeneous. The mixture can have variable compositions. The constituents in the mixture can be easily separated by physical means.