NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science (Curiosity) Chapter 9: Methods of Separation in Everyday Life

These Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 9 solutions cover Methods of Separation in Everyday Life from the new NCF textbook (session 2026–27). Following Malli and Valli on their tour of India, this chapter explains how we separate the useful parts of a mixture from the unwanted ones using simple methods such as handpicking, threshing, winnowing, sieving, sedimentation, decantation, filtration, evaporation, churning and magnetic separation. Every “Let us enhance our learning” exercise question is reproduced and solved below.

Class: 6 Subject: Science Book: Curiosity Chapter: 9 Topic: Methods of Separation Session: 2026–27
On this page

Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 9 Solutions – Overview

Chapter 9 of Curiosity, Methods of Separation in Everyday Life, shows that the things around us are often mixtures — two or more substances mixed together. We separate them either to remove a useless or harmful part (like stones from pulses) or to obtain a useful part (like butter from curd, or salt from seawater). The chapter follows Malli and Valli across India, where each place teaches a method that depends on a clever difference between the components — their size, weight, magnetic nature, or whether they dissolve in water. Solid–solid mixtures are sorted by handpicking, threshing, winnowing, sieving or magnetic separation; solids dissolved or suspended in liquids are separated by sedimentation, decantation, filtration and evaporation; and butter is taken from curd by churning.

Key Concepts & Definitions

Mixture: a substance made when two or more substances are mixed together, such as grains mixed with small stones and husk.

Handpicking: picking out small quantities of unwanted material (stones, husk) from a mixture by hand, based on differences in size, colour and shape.

Threshing: beating harvested stalks to separate the grains from them.

Winnowing: separating lighter husk from heavier grains by dropping the mixture in wind or by blowing air; the lighter husk is blown away.

Sieving: separating components of a solid–solid mixture that have different particle sizes, using a sieve — fine particles pass through while bigger ones stay on top.

Sedimentation: the settling down of a heavier, insoluble component at the bottom of a liquid.

Decantation: gently pouring off (or tilting) the upper liquid after the heavier solid has settled.

Filtration: separating insoluble solids from a liquid by passing it through a filter (cloth, filter paper, etc.); the solid stays as residue and the clear liquid passes as filtrate.

Evaporation: the process in which a liquid changes into vapour; used to recover a solid dissolved in a liquid (e.g. salt from salt solution).

Churning: rapidly stirring curd so that the lighter butter floats up and separates from the buttermilk.

Magnetic separation: separating magnetic substances (like iron) from non-magnetic ones using a magnet.

Let us enhance our learning — NCERT Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT Curiosity textbook (Reprint 2026–27); the answers are original and exam-ready.

1. What purpose does handpicking serve in the process of separation? (i) Filtration    (ii) Sorting    (iii) Evaporation    (iv) Decantation

ANSWER (ii) Sorting. Handpicking is used to sort a mixture — we pick out unwanted bits such as small stones or husk from grains and pulses by hand, on the basis of differences in their size, colour and shape.

2. Which of the following substances are commonly separated using the churning method? (i) Oil from water    (ii) Sand from water    (iii) Cream from milk    (iv) Oxygen from air

ANSWER (iii) Cream from milk. In churning, curd (made from milk) is stirred rapidly. The lighter fat — cream/butter — floats to the top and is separated, leaving the buttermilk behind.

3. Which factor is usually essential for the filtration? (i) Apparatus size    (ii) Presence of air    (iii) Pore size    (iv) Temperature of the mixture

ANSWER (iii) Pore size. Filtration works because the filter has tiny pores. The pores must be small enough to hold back the solid particles (residue) while letting the liquid (filtrate) pass through, so the size of the pores is the essential factor.

4. State with reason(s) whether the following statements are True [T] or False [F]. Also, correct the False statement(s). (i) Salt can be separated from salt solution by keeping it under the Sun. [  ] (ii) Handpicking should be used only when the quantity of one component is less. [  ] (iii) A mixture of puffed rice and rice grains can be separated by threshing. [  ] (iv) A mixture of mustard oil and lemon water can be separated by decantation. [  ] (v) Sieving is used to separate a mixture of rice flour and water. [  ]

ANSWER (i) True [T]. When salt solution is kept under the Sun, the water evaporates and the solid salt is left behind, so salt is separated by evaporation. (ii) True [T]. Handpicking is convenient only when the unwanted component is present in a small quantity and can easily be picked by hand; it would be too slow for large amounts. (iii) False [F]. Threshing only separates grains attached to stalks; it cannot separate puffed rice from rice grains. Correction: a mixture of puffed rice and rice grains can be separated by sieving or winnowing, because the two differ in size and weight (puffed rice is bigger and much lighter). (iv) True [T]. Mustard oil does not mix with lemon water and forms a separate layer on top when left undisturbed, so the two can be separated by decantation. (v) False [F]. Sieving separates only solids of different sizes, not a solid mixed with a liquid. Correction: a mixture of rice flour and water is separated by filtration (and the flour can then be dried), since rice flour is insoluble in water.

5. Match the mixtures in Column I with their method of separation in Column II.

Column IColumn II
(i) Gram flour mixed with black gram(a) Handpicking
(ii) Chalk powder mixed with water(b) Magnetic separation
(iii) Corn mixed with potatoes(c) Decantation
(iv) Iron powder mixed with sawdust(d) Sieving
(v) Oil mixed with water(e) Filtration
ANSWER (i) → (d) Sieving — fine gram flour passes through the sieve while the larger black gram stays on top. (ii) → (e) Filtration — chalk powder is insoluble in water and is held back as residue on the filter. (iii) → (a) Handpicking — corn and potatoes differ greatly in size, colour and shape, so they are easily picked apart by hand. (iv) → (b) Magnetic separation — iron is magnetic and is pulled out by a magnet, leaving the non-magnetic sawdust. (v) → (c) Decantation — oil and water do not mix and form separate layers, so the upper oil can be poured off. Summary: (i)-(d), (ii)-(e), (iii)-(a), (iv)-(b), (v)-(c).

6. In what situations would you use decantation instead of filtration to separate solids from liquids?

ANSWER Decantation is used when the solid is heavy and insoluble and quickly settles down at the bottom of the liquid on its own (this settling is sedimentation). Once it has settled, we can simply tilt the vessel and pour off the clear upper liquid — no filter is needed. For example, when separating muddy water with heavy sand particles, or pouring off tea after the leaves settle, decantation is quick and easy. Filtration is preferred instead when the solid particles are fine and do not settle easily, or when we want to remove the solid completely, because decantation always leaves some fine particles behind.

7. Can you relate the presence of nasal hair to any separation process?

ANSWER Yes. The tiny hair inside our nose acts like a filter, so it works on the principle of filtration. When we breathe in, air carries dust particles, pollen and other impurities. The nasal hair traps these larger particles — just as a filter holds back solid residue — and allows clean air to pass into the lungs. This protects our respiratory system from dirt and germs.

8. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all of us wore masks. Generally, what material are they made of? What is the role of these masks?

ANSWER Material: Masks are generally made of layers of cloth or fine non-woven fabric (such as the synthetic fibres used in surgical and N95 masks) that contain very fine pores. Role: A mask works like a filter. Its fine pores trap dust, tiny droplets, germs and viruses present in the air, while letting air pass through for breathing. This stops harmful particles from entering our nose and mouth and also stops the droplets from an infected person from spreading to others, helping to control the disease.

9. A mixture containing potatoes, salt and sawdust has been given to you. Outline a stepwise procedure for separating each component from this mixture.

ANSWER Step 1 – Remove the potatoes (handpicking): Potatoes are large and easy to see, so pick them out by hand. This leaves a mixture of salt and sawdust. Step 2 – Add water and stir: Add water to the salt–sawdust mixture and stir. The salt dissolves in water, while the sawdust is insoluble and floats/remains suspended. Step 3 – Filter the mixture: Pass it through a filter. The sawdust is collected as residue on the filter; dry it to recover the sawdust. The salt solution passes through as filtrate. Step 4 – Evaporate the filtrate: Heat the salt solution (or keep it in sunlight) so the water evaporates and the salt is left behind. All three components — potatoes, sawdust and salt — are now separated.

10. Read the following story titled ‘Intelligent Leela’ and tick the most appropriate options. Provide a suitable title of your choice for the paragraph.

Leela was working in the farm with her father when she realised that they left their drinking water at home. Before her father felt thirsty/hungry, she went to the nearby pond to fetch some water/grains. After obtaining some water in the container, she noticed that the water was muddy and fit/unfit for drinking. To purify the water, she kept it for some time and then she filtered/churned the muddy water using a piece of paper/muslin cloth. Leela, then, cooled/boiled the water for about 10 minutes in a covered pan. After cooling/boiling, she filtered/churned it again and made it fit/unfit for drinking. She served this water to her father while having food, who blessed her and appreciated her efforts.

ANSWER Completed paragraph (correct options ticked): Leela was working in the farm with her father when she realised that they left their drinking water at home. Before her father felt thirsty, she went to the nearby pond to fetch some water. After obtaining some water in the container, she noticed that the water was muddy and unfit for drinking. To purify the water, she kept it for some time and then she filtered the muddy water using a piece of muslin cloth. Leela, then, boiled the water for about 10 minutes in a covered pan. After boiling, she filtered it again and made it fit for drinking. She served this water to her father while having food, who blessed her and appreciated her efforts. Suitable title: “Leela’s Clever Way to Clean Water” (or “Pure Water through Filtration and Boiling”). Any sensible title of your choice is accepted.

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What is a mixture? Give one example.

ANSWERA mixture is formed when two or more substances are mixed together. Example: wheat grains mixed with small stones and husk.

Q2. Why do we separate the substances in a mixture? Give two reasons.

ANSWER(1) To remove an unwanted or harmful component, e.g. removing stones from pulses. (2) To obtain a useful component, e.g. getting butter from curd or salt from seawater.

Q3. Differentiate between threshing and winnowing.

ANSWERThreshing is beating the harvested stalks to separate the grains from them. Winnowing is separating the lighter husk from the heavier grains by dropping the mixture in wind or blowing air, so the husk is carried away.

Q4. How is salt obtained from seawater?

ANSWERSeawater is collected in shallow pits and exposed to sunlight and air. The water slowly evaporates, leaving behind a solid mixture, from which common salt is obtained after further purification.

Q5. Define sedimentation and decantation.

ANSWERSedimentation is the settling down of a heavier, insoluble component at the bottom of a liquid. Decantation is then pouring off (or tilting away) the clear upper liquid, leaving the settled solid behind.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Explain how muddy water from a pond can be made clean and fit for drinking.

ANSWERFirst, the muddy water is left undisturbed for some time so the heavy mud particles settle at the bottom — this is sedimentation. The clear water on top is then carefully poured off by decantation. To remove finer impurities, the water is filtered through a muslin cloth or a filter paper, which holds back the remaining solid particles as residue and lets clear water pass through as filtrate. Finally, this water is boiled for about 10 minutes in a covered pan to kill germs, making it safe and fit for drinking. By combining sedimentation, decantation, filtration and boiling, dirty pond water is turned into clean drinking water.

Q2. Describe the method of separating grains from harvested crops as practised by farmers.

ANSWERWhen a crop is harvested, the grains are attached to the stalks. Farmers first carry out threshing, in which the stalks are beaten on a hard surface such as a wooden log so that the grains fall off. After threshing, the grains are mixed with light husk. To remove this husk, farmers do winnowing: standing on a raised platform, they drop the mixture from a bamboo tray (soop) in the direction of the wind. The heavier grains fall straight down into a heap, while the lighter husk is blown a little away by the wind, forming a separate pile. Modern threshing machines (threshers) can do both threshing and winnowing together. Finally, any small stones left among the grains are removed by handpicking.

Q3. A shopkeeper has a mixture of iron filings, salt, sand and water. Explain how each component can be separated.

ANSWERFirst, a magnet is moved through the mixture so that the magnetic iron filings are attracted to it and pulled out — this is magnetic separation. The remaining mixture of salt, sand and water is then filtered: the insoluble sand stays on the filter as residue, while the salt solution passes through as filtrate (salt is dissolved in water). The sand is dried to recover it. The salt solution is finally heated or kept in the Sun so that the water evaporates, leaving behind solid salt; if we want to recover the water too, the vapour can be cooled and condensed back into liquid water. In this way all four components are separated using magnetic separation, filtration and evaporation.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Picking small stones out of rice by hand is called:

(a) sieving    (b) handpicking    (c) winnowing    (d) filtration

2. Beating harvested stalks to separate grains is known as:

(a) winnowing    (b) churning    (c) threshing    (d) sedimentation

3. Lighter husk is separated from heavier grains by:

(a) winnowing    (b) sieving    (c) decantation    (d) magnetic separation

4. A sieve is used to separate components of a mixture that differ in:

(a) colour    (b) particle size    (c) smell    (d) magnetic nature

5. Salt is recovered from salt solution by the process of:

(a) filtration    (b) decantation    (c) evaporation    (d) threshing

6. Tea leaves are removed from tea most completely by:

(a) decantation    (b) filtration (using a strainer)    (c) winnowing    (d) sieving

7. In filtration, the clear liquid that passes through the filter is called the:

(a) residue    (b) mixture    (c) filtrate    (d) sediment

8. Butter is separated from curd by:

(a) sieving    (b) churning    (c) filtration    (d) evaporation

9. Iron nails can be separated from sawdust using a:

(a) sieve    (b) filter paper    (c) magnet    (d) bamboo tray

10. The settling down of a heavier insoluble solid at the bottom of a liquid is called:

(a) decantation    (b) sedimentation    (c) evaporation    (d) filtration

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(a), 4-(b), 5-(c), 6-(b), 7-(c), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(b).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: Winnowing is used to separate husk from grains.

Reason: The husk is lighter than the grains, so it is carried away by the wind.

A-R 2. Assertion: Salt can be obtained from seawater by evaporation.

Reason: On heating or exposure to sunlight, the water turns into vapour and the dissolved salt is left behind.

A-R 3. Assertion: Decantation completely separates all the tea leaves from tea.

Reason: In decantation the heavier solid settles down and only the clear liquid is poured off.

A-R 4. Assertion: A magnet can be used to separate iron filings from a mixture.

Reason: Iron is a magnetic substance and is attracted towards a magnet.

A-R 5. Assertion: Sieving can be used to separate rice flour from water.

Reason: Sieving separates solid components of a mixture that have different particle sizes.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(A), 3-(D), 4-(A), 5-(D).

Quick Revision Summary

  • A mixture contains two or more substances; we separate them to remove an unwanted part or to obtain a useful part.
  • Handpicking separates small amounts of stones/husk by differences in size, colour and shape.
  • Threshing beats stalks to free the grains; winnowing blows away the lighter husk in the wind.
  • Sieving separates solid–solid mixtures of different particle sizes.
  • Sedimentation + decantation separate a settled heavy solid from a liquid; filtration removes insoluble solids (residue) and gives clear filtrate.
  • Evaporation recovers a dissolved solid (salt) from a liquid; churning extracts butter from curd.
  • Magnetic separation uses a magnet to pull out magnetic substances like iron. Mixtures of more than two components need a combination of methods.

Real-life Applications

Methods of separation are used everywhere in daily life. Farmers thresh and winnow grain; cooks sieve flour, strain tea and churn curd into butter; and salt is harvested from seawater and lakes (such as Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan) by evaporation. At construction sites, sieves separate pebbles from sand. Our own body uses filtration — nasal hair traps dust from the air we breathe — and masks work on the same principle. Recyclers and industries use giant magnets fitted to cranes to pull scrap iron out of waste heaps so it can be reused. Even cleaning muddy water for drinking combines sedimentation, decantation, filtration and boiling. Learning these methods helps us choose the right one based on the property — size, weight, solubility or magnetism — that makes the components different.

How to score full marks in this chapter

Always link the method to the property being used: size (sieving, handpicking), weight (winnowing, sedimentation), solubility (filtration, evaporation) or magnetism (magnetic separation). In “separate the mixture” questions, write a clear stepwise procedure and remember that a mixture with more than two components needs a combination of methods. Use the correct terms — residue, filtrate, threshing, winnowing — and add a real-life example to strengthen your answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 9 about?

Chapter 9, Methods of Separation in Everyday Life, explains why and how we separate the components of a mixture using everyday methods — handpicking, threshing, winnowing, sieving, sedimentation, decantation, filtration, evaporation, churning and magnetic separation — each chosen according to a property such as size, weight, solubility or magnetism.

What is the difference between winnowing and sieving?

Winnowing separates lighter and heavier components (like husk and grain) using wind or blowing air, so it depends on weight. Sieving separates solid components of different particle sizes using a sieve, where fine particles pass through and bigger ones stay on top.

How is salt separated from a salt solution?

By evaporation. The salt solution is heated or left in sunlight so the water evaporates as vapour, leaving the solid salt behind. To get the water back too, the vapour can be cooled and condensed.

Are these Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 9 solutions free?

Yes. All solutions are free and follow the official NCERT Curiosity textbook for 2026–27.

← Chapter 8 All Curiosity Chapters Chapter 10 →
Scroll to Top