The process by which two substances (an insoluble solid and a liquid) are separated by passing the mixture through a filtering device is called filtration.
Filtration is commonly used in our homes.
For instance, after preparing tea we filter out the tea leaves using a strainer.
Filtration is also Done:
To remove pulp from fresh fruit juice
To separate mixture of salt and sand. (If we add enough water, the salt dissolves in the water but the sand does not)
During filtration, the insoluble solid is retained in the filtering device whereas the liquid passes through it.
It is important that the particles of the insoluble solid are bigger than the holes in the filtering device.
A filter paper is used as a filtering device that has very fine pores in it.