Investigating Separating Mixtures
Lab
Task Card 1 (Sand/Salt)
2a) Sand – brown crystals
Salt – White crystals
Heterogeneous Mixture
Gritty
2b) Salt dissolves in water (soluble). Sand does not
dissolve in water
2e) Sand remains in the filter
Salt dissolved in the water and passed through the
filter.
2f) Liquid appears clear & colorless (some may be a bit
dirty)
2g) Liquid evaporated. White crusty solid remains.
Task Card 2 (Marbles, Beads, & BB’s)
3a) Marbles – large, swirls of color, glass, heavy
BB’s – metal, shiny, very small
Beads – Plastic, light, colorful (small hole in middle)
Heterogeneous Mixture
3b) Density, magnetism, solubility, color/size
3c) Magnet picks up the BB’s but not the marbles
or the beads.
3d) Most of the beads float (less dense) Marbles
sink (more dense)
3e) We scooped the beads out of the water with the
spoon.
Analyze the Results
5) Sand and salt was separated by
solubility. Salt was soluble in water and
dissolved in the water. Sand was insoluble
in water.
6) Magnetism – magnet picked up the BB’s
but not the glass marbles or plastic beads.
Density – plastic was less dense than the
glass marbles. Plastic beads floated to the
top of the water while the marbles sank
to the bottom.
Draw Conclusions and Connect to
Essential Question
8) Difference in physical properties can be
used to separate mixtures.
(You must then give at least 1 example from
the lab)
9) Pure substances are elements and
compounds. They are made of only 1 atom
or 2 different atoms chemically combined. In
order to separate compounds a chemical
change needs to occur.
Mixtures can be separated by physical means
by taking advantage of the differences in
physical properties of the substances in the
mixture.