Mixture+Separation


 * Matter and Change Lab**
 * Mixture Separation**

samples of components of mixture (sand, iron fillings, salt, poppy seeds) other materials you choose to include in your procedure (be sure to include a list of these in your write-up)
 * Materials**

//Observe// the physical properties of a mixture.
 * Objectives**

//Relate// knowledge of physical properties to the task of purifying the mixture.

//Design and Communicate// a procedure that can be easily followed by your peers.

//Analyze// the success of methods of purifying the mixture.

Pure substances are often needed for chemical use in research, industry and development. However, naturally occurring materials are rarely composed of pure substances making it necessary to separate these pure substances by chemical or physical methods. These substances can often be separated by taking advantage of differences in their physical properties.
 * Background**

During this lab, you will practice studying the physical properties of substances and designing a procedure for separating a mixture of these substances. The substances provided consist of the following materials: iron fillings, poppy seeds, salt and sand.

//Day 1//
 * Procedure**
 * 1) Dress for lab. Make sure you are wearing close-toed shoes, have your hair pulled back, and apron and lab glasses in place. Make sure loose clothing is secured. Wear heat resistant gloves when handling hot items.
 * 2) Determine which physical properties you will test and how you will test each property.
 * For example, you may consider testing physical properties such as the ability to dissolve or float.
 * Remember to test enough physical properties to allow you to easily separate each of these materials from the mixture.
 * Create a data table to organize the results of your tests.
 * Gather the materials you will need to test these properties.
 * 1) Do not return chemicals, compounds or other substances to their original containers. Doing so will result in the contamination of that substance.
 * 2) Test the physical properties of the separate samples of each of the mixture components.
 * Do not use all of your samples at once, as you will need to run several different tests on each mixture component.
 * Do not assume to know the properties of each of these mixture components. Instead be sure to perform the same tests on each of them.
 * Record the results of your tests in the data table you created to clearly organize each of their properties.
 * 1) Using the separate components, create a mixture with known amounts of each of the four mixture components (salt, poppy seeds, iron filings and sand).
 * Do not be wasteful, conserve materials and keep your __total mixture under 10.0 grams__.
 * __Record, precisely, the mass of each component__ used in your mixture, and the __mass of the final mixture__.
 * __Organize this information in another data table__. Design your data table so that you have a place to record the mass of each component that is successfully recovered from the mixture.
 * Store your mixture in a closed container (provided by your teacher), label it with the names of your group members, and give it to your teacher, with the data table containing the individual and combined masses.

//Day 2//
 * 1) With your lab partner, design a step-by-step procedure to use the physical properties of each of these samples to separate the mixture that you have created.
 * You may use all of your resources (including internet, teacher, and peers - with their permission) when designing your procedure.
 * As you write the procedure, make sure that __a fellow student__ could easily follow it.
 * Compose the procedure in Pages.
 * Use pictures or diagrams and refer to these in the procedure to explain complicated steps.
 * Submit your procedure by e-mailing it, as an attachment, to your teacher.
 * You will need to complete and submit this procedure before the next class period, so the procedure can be approved by your teacher and provided for your classmates.
 * You may be asked and should be prepared to make changes to your procedure, before it is provided to your classmates.

//Day 3//
 * 1) Once you have received an approved separation procedure and the accompanying mixture and data table, measure the mass of the total mixture. Record this mass in the data table.
 * 2) Perform the procedure - as instructed - to separate the mixture components.
 * 3) As you separate each component, measure and record the mass of the dry, solid material.
 * 4) Once you have separated each component and recorded the mass recovered, use this data, and the formula shown below, to calculate the percentage yield of each component. Organize the resulting percentage yields in a data table under Analysis in your lab write-up. The formula and sample calculation should also be included on this page.

Analysis: percentage yield = actual yield / expected yield x 100%


 * Questions:** (Record your responses, using complete sentences, in the question section of your lab notebook.)
 * 1) What properties of the mixture components did you test and why?
 * 2) Why must you never return a chemical sample to its original container?
 * 3) How successful were you in separating and recovering each of the four mixture components? Include the results of your percentage yield in your evaluation.
 * 4) What changes would you make to the procedure to improve it and how would these changes be an improvement?

Davis, Raymond E. "Experiment 1: Mixture Separation." Modern Chemistry. Orlando: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2006. 26-27. Print.
 * Adapted from:**