Which technique would you use to separate a solid from a liquid?

Filtration is the most appropriate technique for separating a solid from a liquid. The process involves passing the mixture through a filter that allows the liquid to pass while retaining the solid particles. This technique is particularly effective when dealing with heterogeneous mixtures, where the solid is visibly distinct from the liquid, allowing for straightforward separation without altering the chemical composition of either phase.

In contrast, other methods listed serve different purposes: evaporation would involve turning the liquid into vapor to leave behind solid residues, but this may not be suitable if the goal is simply to isolate the solid directly. Chromatography is typically used for separating components of a mixture based on different affinities for a stationary phase, and isn't ideal for straightforward solid-liquid separation. Distillation separates components based on differences in boiling points, which is more suited for separating liquids from liquids or purifying liquids but not for isolating a solid directly from a liquid. Thus, filtration is the best technique for this scenario.