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Topic Separation techniques
Asked 7 times across 3 UPSC exams over 7 years (2019–2026), peaking in 2023.
Key insights
- Most tested in NDA — 4 of 7 PYQs
- Most asked in 2023
- Recurs across 6 years (2019–2026)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CDS 2019 → NDA 2021 → CISF 2022
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (7 of 7) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
NDA2026
A non-volatile solid solute may be separated from a solution by which of the following processes?
- Evaporation
- Crystallization
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A I only
- B II only
- C Both I and II ✓
- D Neither I nor II
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
NDA2023
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists
| List I (Process) | List II (Separation method) |
|---|
| A. Separation of acetone and water from their mixture | 1. Chromatography |
| B. Separation of water and kerosene oil from their mixture | 2. Centrifugation |
| C. Separation of cream from milk | 3. Distillation |
| D. Separation of pigments from plant extract | 4. Separating Funnel |
Codes:
- A A-3 B-2 C-4 D-1
- B A-4 B-2 C-1 D-3
- C A-3 B-4 C-2 D-1 ✓
- D A-4 B-1 C-2 D-3
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
NDA2023
Kerosene and petrol mixture can be best separated by
- A Sublimation
- B Separating funnel
- C Fractional distillation ✓
- D Compressing and cooling
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
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