What is the process of removing impurities from a mixture to obtain a pure element called?

The process of removing impurities from a mixture to obtain a pure element is called refining. This term specifically refers to the techniques used in metallurgy and the processing of materials to improve their quality by removing unwanted substances. For example, when refining metals, the end goal is to produce a more pure form of the metal by eliminating contaminants and separating them from the desired material. Refining can involve various methods, including chemical processes, distillation, or crystallization, all aimed at achieving a high degree of purity.

Purification, while also applicable, is a broader term and can refer to processes not strictly limited to materials or elements. It encompasses any activity that makes something pure, but it is not as specific as refining in the context of obtaining pure elemental materials.

Separation generally refers to techniques that involve dividing a mixture into its components but doesn’t inherently imply the removal of impurities to achieve purity.

Filtration is a specific technique often used in the purification process to separate solids from liquids or gases but alone does not ensure that the resultant product is a pure element. Each of these processes has its distinct context but refining is uniquely defined by its focus on the end goal of achieving purity, particularly in elements and raw materials.