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Leaving Cert Chemistry: Instrumentation and separation

How often Instrumentation and separation comes up on the Chemistry papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 8 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

OL Asked on 6 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

June 2027 is the first exam on the new Chemistry course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Instrumentation and separation, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Instrumentation and separation.

(a)Technique that separates substances by how far they travel with a moving solvent?
  1. Titration
  2. Chromatography
  3. Distillation
(b)Technique used to separate liquids with different boiling points?
  1. Paper chromatography
  2. Filtration under suction
  3. Fractional distillation
(c)Technique that removes a solute from water using an immiscible solvent in a separating funnel?
  1. Solvent extraction
  2. Evaporation
  3. Filtration
Show the answers

(a) Chromatography

(b) Fractional distillation

(c) Solvent extraction

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Instrumentation and separation.

Higher Level

Asked on 8 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q3, Q4(g)
2025Q2, Q4(j)
2024Q2, Q4(j)
2023Not asked
2022Q2
2021Not asked
2019Q4(h)
2018Q2
2017Q4(h)
2016Q2, Q4(j)

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Instrumentation and separation questions

Instrumentation and separation, 3 marks

How is an Rf value calculated in chromatography?

  1. Distance moved by the solvent front divided by distance moved by the spot
  2. Distance moved by the spot multiplied by the time taken
  3. Distance moved by the spot divided by distance moved by the solvent front
Show the answer

Distance moved by the spot divided by distance moved by the solvent front

Both distances are measured from the same starting line, so Rf is always between 0 and 1 and has no units.

Instrumentation and separation, 2 marks

Best technique to obtain pure water from salt water?

  1. Chromatography
  2. Distillation
  3. Filtration
Show the answer

Distillation

The water boils off, is condensed in a condenser and collected, while the salt stays behind in the flask.

Instrumentation and separation, 2 marks

Why can filtration not separate salt from salt water?

  1. The salt is dissolved, so its particles pass through the filter paper
  2. Salt is heavier than water, so it sinks through the paper
  3. The filter paper reacts with the salt and dissolves it
Show the answer

The salt is dissolved, so its particles pass through the filter paper

Filtration only removes insoluble solids. Dissolved particles are far smaller than the holes in the paper.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 6 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q4(c), Q4(h)
2025Q4(h)
2024Q11(c)
2023Not asked
2022Q4(g), Q11(c)
2021Not asked
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017Q1
2016Q4(e), Q10(a)

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Instrumentation and separation questions

Instrumentation and separation, 2 marks

In paper chromatography, the stationary phase is?

  1. The solvent
  2. The glass tank
  3. The paper
Show the answer

The paper

The solvent is the mobile phase. It moves up the paper and carries the substances different distances.

Instrumentation and separation, 2 marks

Simplest technique to separate sand from water?

  1. Chromatography
  2. Filtration
  3. Crystallisation
Show the answer

Filtration

The sand is trapped by the filter paper as the residue and the water passes through as the filtrate.

Instrumentation and separation, 2 marks

Technique used to get salt crystals from salt solution?

  1. Evaporation (crystallisation)
  2. Filtration (filter paper)
  3. Chromatography (on paper)
Show the answer

Evaporation (crystallisation)

Heat the solution to drive off some water, then leave it to cool so crystals form. Filtration cannot remove a dissolved solid.

Other Chemistry topics

All of Leaving Cert Chemistry