Name:
Period:
Score: _________/30
Formal Lab Report: Separating a Mixture
Question: How can a given mixture of common materials become separated?
Instructions:
 You will create a method to separate a mixture of common materials.
**You will create a formal lab report where you type your final lab report in 12 point font double
spaced**
Introduction:
Separation and recovery of pure substances are extremely important operations of scientific
research and industry, but separating the different components in a mixture can often prove quite
challenging. In this investigation, you will have an opportunity to design, develop, and implement your
own procedure in an attempt to separate and recover the components of a mixture with available
materials.
 The mixture contains the following four substances in dry granular form: salt, sand, iron filings,
and poppy seeds.
 You may use any of the materials that are available on the head table.
 If you use a material without a purpose (if you are wasteful) you will not be allowed any more
materials.
 All lab materials and lab space must be cleaned before you are dismissed (NO PASSES WILL BE
GIVEN FOR YOUR NEXT CLASS IF YOU GO OVER THE ALLOTED LAB TIME).
Lab Report Check List:
1. Title
2. Question to be answered.
3. Testable Hypothesis. (I think…because…)
4. Method: Step by step list of how the experiment was performed.
a. Normally there would be a method that you follow, for this lab you are generating your
own method that explains your steps that you will use to separate the mixture.
b. You will need to describe each step in detail for each of the four substances.
c. Include the materials you used, amounts of liquids used, etc.
d. The more detailed the better!
5. Results:
a. As you separate your pure substances, which can be done tomorrow. You will need to bring
them to me when each one is separated and dry.
b. I will observe and weigh your results on a digital scale. (Recovered Substance Mass)
c. The group with the highest total percent recovery without going over 100% will win.
d. To be included in your data table: (Copy this to your own lab report!)
Starting Sample Mass: ____________g
Recovered Substance Mass:
Salt: _______g
Sand: ________g
Percent Recovery= (Recovered
Substance Mass / Starting Sample
Salt: __________% Sand: ________%
Mass) *100
Total Recovery Percent = Sum of all percent recoveries.
Total Percent Recovery= ____________ %
Iron Fillings:
Poppy Seeds:
________g
__________g
Iron Fillings:
Poppy Seeds:
___________%
____________%
6. Conclusion: Answer 3 of the 4 questions in your lab report. Use paragraph format.
a. In your estimation, how successful were you (on a scale of 1-10) in separating and
recovering each of the four components: Sand, Salt, Fe Filings, and Poppy Seeds? Justify
your estimations of your success, based on your observations.
b. What made you decide to do your procedural steps in the order in which you did them?
Would any order have worked?
c. If you were able to do the lab over again, what specific things would you do differently?
d. For each of the four components, describe a specific physical property that enabled you to
separate it from the rest of the mixture.
7. Include heading for each section.
8. Check your spelling and grammar.
Lab Report Rubric:
(5 pts)
(4 pts)
(3 pts)
(2-1 pts)
Introduction
1. Includes the question to be
answered by the lab
2. Title is relevant.
4. Hypothesis (prediction) is
testable.
One of the "excellent"
conditions is not met
Two of the "excellent"
conditions is not met
Three of the "excellent"
conditions is not met
Methods
A very detailed step-by-step list of
how the experiment was
performed for each of the four
substances is included.
A description or stepby-step list of how the
experiment was
performed, missing
one of the
substances.
A description or step-bystep list of how the
experiment was
performed, missing more
than one of the
substances.
Description unclear,
couldn't be repeated
Results (data)
Results and data are clearly
recorded, organized so it is easy
for the reader to see trends. All
appropriate labels are included
Results are clear and Results are unclear,
labeled, trends are not missing labels, trends are
obvious,
not obvious at all
Results are present,
though too disorganized
or poorly recorded to
make sense of
Conclusions
At least 3 of the questions were
answered in great detail.
Paragraph form was used.
One of the "excellent"
conditions is not met
Two of the "excellent"
conditions is not met
Three of the "excellent"
conditions is not met
Format
Great care was taken to ensure
that the lab report is neat,
organized with headings, no or
few spelling/grammar errors
Lab report is in
general neat,
organized with
headings, few or
multiple
spelling/grammar
errors
Somewhat lacking in
organization, multiple
spelling/grammar errors,
not neat.
Lab report seems to be
put together at last
minute with little
attention to neatness,
spelling and grammar.
Participation
Used time well in lab and focused
attention on the experiment. Let
all members of the group have
equal participation, did not take
over the lab or let others do
most of the work.
Used time pretty well.
Stayed focused most
of the time and put in
equal effort to the
group.
Did the lab but did not
appear very interested.
Focus was lost on several
occasions.
Participation was
minimal OR student
was hostile about
participating.
STAPLE THIS SHEET TO THE FRONT OF YOUR LAB REPORT.
IF YOU DO NOT YOU WILL BE DEDUCTED POINTS!
Lab Report Due Date: _____________________________