Question

How can we separate a mixture of two immiscible liquids? Describe the process.

Answer 1

There are two types of liquid mixtures i.e. miscible (two liquids are mixed evenly) and immiscible (two liquids do not mix properly; even after shaking they tend to separate after some time).

Complete answer:
Let us understand the process in detail;
Immiscible liquids –
As the name suggests, the liquids are not miscible i.e. dissolving into each other. To take into note the most common example of two immiscible liquids is the mixture of oil and water.
When this mixture is created, the oil and water forms separate layers in the container. As oil is denser than that of water, it will form a layer at the bottom side of the container below the layer of water. The difference in their densities make the separation easy by just a separating funnel.
Separating funnel is a kind of funnel which has a stopcock at the nozzle point which can be operated to separate the mixture. We need to hold a beaker under the separating funnel and start the stopcock, the denser liquid will flow into the beaker. The less dense liquid which was at the upper side of the funnel will remain there when we stop the stopcock.
This is described firmly by following diagram-

Note:
Do note that the simple phenomenon of difference in densities is responsible for the separation of two immiscible liquids and thus, the method is simpler through the separating funnel.
Otherwise, for separation of two miscibles we need to take into account the system of fractional distillation which then separates according to the difference in volatilities.