Download Mixture Separation Lab

Name:________________
Mixture Separation Lab
Objectives: Observe the chemical and physical properties of a mixture.
 Relate knowledge of chemical and physical properties to the task of purifying the mixture.
 Analyze the success of methods of purifying the mixture.
Background: The ability to separate and recover pure substances from mixtures is extremely
important in scientific research and industry. Chemists need to work with pure substances, but
naturally, occurring materials are seldom pure. Often, differences in the physical properties of the
components in a mixture provide the means for separating them. In this experiment, you will have
an opportunity to design, develop, and implement your own procedure for separating a mixture.
The mixture you will work with contains salt, sand, iron filings, and styrofoam. All four substances
are in dry, granular form.
Safety: Wear goggles. Use care when working with glassware.
PreLab Questions: In the blank write if the following properties are extensive or intensive:
_______________1. Iron is magnetic
_______________2. Water is a liquid at room temperature
_______________3. The density of water is 1.0g/mL
_______________4. A sample of water has a mass of 5.5 grams
_______________5. Hydrochloric acid will react with magnesium
_______________6. The volume of a piece of metal is 6.7cm 3
_______________7. The length of a piece of string is 10.5cm
In the blank write if the following are chemical or physical properties of matter:
_______________8. color
_______________9. smell
_______________10. freezing point
_______________11. boiling point
_______________12. melting point
_______________13. attraction (paramagnetic) or repulsion (diamagnetic) to magnets
_______________14. viscosity
_______________15. density
_______________16. heat of combustion
_______________17. reactivity with water
_______________18. pH
Procedures:
1. Obtain separate samples of each of the four mixture components from your teacher. Use
the equipment you have available to make observations of the components and determine
their properties. Look for things like whether the substance is magnetic, whether it
dissolves, or whether it floats. Record your observations in your data table.
2. Make a plan for what you will do to separate a mixture that includes the four components
from step 1. Record your plan below and review it with your teacher.
3. Obtain a sample of the mixture from your teacher. Using the equipment you have
available, run the procedure you have developed.
4. When you separated all four components inform your teacher.
5. Clean your lab station. Draw a picture of a Bunsen burner next to your name.
Data:
Properties
Dissolves in Water
Sand
Iron Filings
Salt
Poppy Seeds
Floats in Water
Magnetic
Other
Conclusion Questions:
_______________1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how successful were you in separating and
recovering each of the four components: sand, salt, iron filings, and poppy seeds? Consider 1 to
be the best and 10 to be the worst. Justify your rating:
2. How did you decide on the order of your procedural steps? Would any order have worked?
3. If you could do the lab over again, what would you do differently? Be specific.
______________&______________4. Name two materials or tools that were not available that
might have made your separation easier.
5. For each of the four components, describe a specific physical property that enabled you to
separate the component from the rest of the mixture.
 sand_____________________________________________________
 salt______________________________________________________
 iron filings_________________________________________________
 styrofoam_______________________________________________
6. How could you separate each of the following two-part mixtures?
 Lead filings and iron filings____________________________________
 Sand and gravel____________________________________________
 Sand and finely ground polystyrene foam________________________
 Salt and sugar_____________________________________________
 Alcohol and water__________________________________________
7. Classify each of the following as either a pure substance or a mixture.
_______________salt water
_______________carbon dioxide
_______________air
_______________mercury
_______________wood
_______________glass