How Can You Separate Salt and Pepper Without Physical Contact?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenge of separating a mixture of salt and pepper without any physical contact. Participants explore various methods and theories related to this problem, including physical properties of the substances and creative approaches to separation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that physical separation is impossible without touching the mixture.
  • Others suggest using static electricity as a method of separation, although this raises questions about whether it constitutes physical interaction.
  • One participant proposes using a centrifuge, arguing that salt is heavier than pepper, but acknowledges the difficulty of using it without physical contact.
  • Another participant describes an experiment where boiling water was used, claiming that the salt sank and the pepper floated, leading to separation.
  • There is a discussion about the melting points and densities of salt and pepper, with some participants questioning the feasibility of heating them to separate the components.
  • Several participants engage in a playful tone, questioning the rules of the challenge and suggesting alternative methods or clarifications.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally do not reach a consensus on the methods of separation, with multiple competing views and ongoing debate about the feasibility of suggested techniques.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the properties of salt and pepper, including their melting points and densities, which may affect the proposed methods of separation. The discussion also highlights the ambiguity of what constitutes "physical contact."

some_one
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we mix one spoon of salt
and one spoon of pepper together
and mix them

how to separate them without touching the mixed salt and pepper

no physical touching aloud
 
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If no physical touching allowed then we can't physically separate them.
Separating the salt and pepper pots is aloud?
 
like obama says
YES WE CAN
 
when do i need to post the answer to the puzzle?
 
Are the grains of equal size?
 
some_one said:
when do i need to post the answer to the puzzle?
Let it mature a bit, let people come along with suggestions and questions.
 
we need to separate them without touching the mix physicly
 
the granes are equal in size
 
first clue
acctually it doesn't matter
 
  • #10
Equal density?Same form?
 
  • #11
Pepper and salt have different melting points ... is that possible?

different mass?
 
  • #12
what is your method of separation?
 
  • #13
put some heat on it and evaporate chillies (collect somewhere : flash -- no touching)

2) Use air force...
 
  • #14
Pepper doesn't melt.
 
  • #15
Evo said:
Pepper doesn't melt.

sounds impossible..

I am considering something 1400 deg C or over...

I thought pepper has lower melting point than salt
(don't know what kind of bonds it has ... )
 
  • #16
yeee but pepper which origins from a plant when heated
comes in contact with the oxigen in the air
and gets burned

which is not aloud
 
  • #17
Take a balloon and rub it on a wool sweater, then hold it right above the mixture.
 
  • #18
biiiiingooooo
you are correct
 
  • #19
rootX said:
sounds impossible..

I am considering something 1400 deg C or over...
:biggrin: Wouldn't that would be more along the lines of incineration?
 
  • #20
Evo said:
:biggrin: Wouldn't that would be more along the lines of incineration?

That never happened in my chemistry class/course/book :shy:
 
  • #21
I actually mixed a pinch of salt and of pepper with the intention of boiling the mixture. I figured the pepper would drift to the bottom of the water and the salt would diffuse. Then after boiling the salt would form a crust above the pepper. But as soon as I put the mixture in the water, the salt sank to the bottom and the pepper floated on top. Separate.
 
  • #22
no physical touching aloud
static electricity is the answer
 
  • #23
some_one said:
no physical touching aloud
static electricity is the answer
Because electricity is not physical?
 
  • #24
I have a better question, how do you separate a mix of salt and pepper using no energy?
 
  • #25
some_one said:
no physical touching aloud
OK, for future reference, it's 'allowed'. :wink:
 
  • #26
Static electricity is still physical interaction for me. Anyways, with static electricity you grab pepper or salt?
 
  • #27
Sakha said:
Static electricity is still physical interaction for me. Anyways, with static electricity you grab pepper or salt?

pepper
 
  • #28
How about a centrifuge? I figure that salt is heavier than pepper.
 
  • #29
Werg22 said:
How about a centrifuge? I figure that salt is heavier than pepper.
You can't have physical interaction, and getting the mix into a centrifuge without physically touching it would be pretty hard.
 
  • #30
Sakha said:
Static electricity is still physical interaction for me.
It most distinctly is not.

You could slip a solid object such as a piece of paper between the balloon and the mixture. No physical contact.
 

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