SEPARATION OF IRON, SALT AND SAND
Separating a mixture is an example of a physical change. There are several ways to
separate a mixture. The use of one's hands in pulling the parts of a mixture apart is one
example. Filtration is another way to separate mixtures. Filtration is the separation of a
heterogeneous (not alike, different) mixtures, by adding a solvent and passing the
resulting mixture through a fine mesh or filter. Evaporation of a homogeneous (alike,
same) mixture will reveal any solid particles which were dissolved in the original
mixture.
MATERIALS:
iron filings
salt
magnet
filter paper
funnel
sand
water
hot plate
50 mL & 100 mL beaker
tongs
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine 1 g of iron filings, 1 g of salt and 1 g of sand in a petri dish.
2. By using a magnet remove the iron filings.
3. Place the mixture which contains salt and sand in a 100 mL beaker.
4. Add 50 mL of water to the mixture.
5. By using filter paper and a funnel separate the sand from the mixture. The sand will
be left on the filter paper, leaving a mixture of salt and water.
6. Using a hot plate bring the salt and water to a boil. Continue boiling while
decreasing heat until almost all of the water has evaporated.
7. Using tongs remove the beaker from the hot plate and place it on a hot pad.
8. The salt will be left at the bottom of the beaker.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is a mixture?
2. What other ways could you of separated the mixture?
3. What substance was the easiest to remove from this mixture? Why?
SEPARATION OF IRON, SALT AND SAND
Separating a mixture is an example of a physical change. There are several ways to
separate a mixture. The use of one's hands in pulling the parts of a mixture apart is one
example. Filtration is another way to separate mixtures. Filtration is the separation of a
heterogeneous (not alike, different) mixtures, by adding a solvent and passing the
resulting mixture through a fine mesh or filter. Evaporation of a homogeneous (alike,
same) mixture will reveal any solid particles which were dissolved in the original
mixture.
MATERIALS:
iron filings
salt
magnet
filter paper
funnel
sand
water
hot plate
50 mL & 100 mL beaker
tongs
DIRECTIONS:
Separate into three separate piles a mixture which contains iron, salt and sand.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is a mixture?
2. Write a procedure for separating each of the components of the mixture.
3. What substance was the easiest to remove from this mixture? Why?