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.