The principle is that immiscible liquids separate out in layers depending on their densities.
Activity
• Let us try to separate kerosene oil from water using a separating funnel.
• Pour the mixture of kerosene oil and water in a separating funnel .
• Let it stand undisturbed for sometime so that separate layers of oil and water are formed.
• Open the stopcock of the separating funnel and pour out the lower layer of water carefully.
• Close the stopcock of the separating funnel as the oil reaches the stop-cock.
Applications
• To separate mixture of oil and water.
• In the extraction of iron from its ore, the lighter slag is removed from the top by this method to leave the molten iron at the bottom in the furnace.