Separating salt from water

[tony873004]

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?

 

[Borek]

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.

 

[tony873004]

Thanks Borek!

 

[sankalpmittal]

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 .