Separating a Mixture of Sand, Salt, and Iron Filings
Level 2
Purpose
To separate a mixture of sand, salt, and iron filings by using their physical properties and to
collect evidence for how each separation step works.
Safety
• Wear safety goggles and a lab apron at all times.
• Keep magnets away from electronic devices.
• Use care with hot plates or warm water; handle hot glassware with tongs or heat-proof
gloves.
• Clean up spills immediately and wash your hands after the lab.
Materials (per group)
• Mixture of sand, salt, and iron filings (about 10 g)
• Magnet (wrapped in a paper towel or plastic)
• 3 beakers (250 mL)
• Stirring rod
• Filter paper and funnel
• Ring stand or beaker to support funnel
• Distilled water (~100 mL)
• Hot plate
• Watch glasses or weighing boats.
• Balance (optional but recommended)
Question
How does using magnetism, dissolving, filtration and evaporation in sequence allow us to
separate a mixture of sand, salt, and iron filings?
Prediction
Write a short prediction about what will happen to each substance during the separation.
Which substance will move with the magnet, which will dissolve, which will stay on the
filter, etc.?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Procedure (Follow, but Record Your Own Measurements)
1. Measure and record the mass of an empty beaker. Then add about 10 g of the mixture
and record the new mass. Calculate the mass of the mixture.
2. Use the wrapped magnet to remove iron filings from the beaker. Collect the iron filings
in a labeled container. If possible, measure and record the mass of the iron filings.
3. Add about 50–60 mL of distilled water to the remaining sand–salt mixture. Stir until the
salt appears to dissolve.
4. Set up a funnel with filter paper over a second clean beaker. Pour the mixture slowly
through the filter. Keep the sand on the filter paper and the salt solution in the beaker.
5. Allow the sand to drain, then carefully transfer it to a weighing boat and measure its
mass (if a balance is available).
6. Place the beaker with the salt solution on a hot plate or. Heat gently until most of the
water evaporates and dry salt crystals remain. Allow to cool, then measure the mass of
the recovered salt if possible.
Data Collection
1. Record mass data (if a balance is available).
Item Mass of container Mass of container + Calculated mass of
(g) substance (g) substance (g)
Empty beaker
(start)
Beaker + mixture
(start)
Iron filings
Sand
Salt
2. Record qualitative observations of each substance before and after separation.
Substance Appearance before Appearance after separation Notes (e.g., purity, dryness)
separation
Mixture
Iron filings
Sand
Salt
Analysis
1. Compare the calculated mass of the whole mixture to the total mass of iron, sand and salt
recovered. Are they similar? Give one reason they might be different.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. For each substance, describe one observation that supports its identity (for example,
color, texture, magnetic behavior, solubility).
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Explain how the sequence of steps (magnetism, dissolving, filtration, evaporation) used
the physical properties of the substances to separate them.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
Write a conclusion that answers the question: How does this sequence of steps allow the
mixture to be separated? Use at least two pieces of data (masses and/or observations) as
evidence.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________