Why the answer is B, and why the others tempt you.
## The reasoning
Mixtures contain two or more substances that are **physically combined** but not chemically bonded. To separate them, you need **physical methods** that exploit differences in their properties—like particle size, boiling point, or solubility.
**Filtration** separates solids from liquids (like sand from water—the sand stays on the filter paper). **Distillation** separates liquids with different boiling points (like separating pure water from salt water by boiling and condensing the steam).
Both are **physical processes**—you're not creating new substances, just splitting what was mixed.
## Why the wrong options tempt you
**A) Reaction** — This creates *new* chemical substances. It doesn't separate mixtures; it transforms them. If you mix salt and water, a reaction won't give you back separate salt and water.
**C) Burning** — This is combustion, a chemical reaction that destroys substances. You'd end up with ash or gases, not your original components.
**D) Cooling only** — Cooling alone rarely separates mixtures unless you're doing something specific like fractional crystallization. It's too vague and limited.
## Quick takeaway
**Mixtures = Physical combination → Separate by physical methods like filtration or distillation, not by chemical reactions.**
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