Why Can't Salt Be Separated from Water Using a Centrifuge or by Letting It Sit?

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SUMMARY

Salt cannot be separated from water using a centrifuge or by allowing it to sit because saltwater is a homogeneous mixture, not a compound. The sodium chloride (NaCl) is dissociated in the solution, meaning the salt and water molecules are not chemically bonded. The density of NaCl does not influence its separation due to the overwhelming effects of molecular collisions from thermal motion, which far exceed gravitational forces. Therefore, traditional separation methods such as filtration or centrifugation are ineffective for this true solution.

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Why can’t I separate salt from water with a centrifuge, or simply by letting it sit for some time? Salt water is a homogeneous mixture, not a compound. So the salt and the water are not chemically bonded. Why don’t the denser NaCl molecules sink to the bottom of the H20 molecules?
 
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NaCl are not in form of molecules, they are dissociated (not that it answers your question).

Notion of density doesn't make much sense for a single molecule. Even if it was making sense, effects of molecular collisions (due to thermal motion of molecules) are orders of magnitude higher that effects of gravity.
 
Thanks Borek!
 
Salt and water are homogeneous solutions , yes and NaCl can easily dissolve in water because of its low electrostatic single bond force .

Water easily dissolves it . It is a true solution cannot be seen , cannot be collected through permeable membrane or filter paper .

No matter of centrifugal force , it cannot be separated .
 

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