Answer key

Separating Mixtures Lab Worksheet

Name
Date

Guided investigation

  1. Sand + Water. Which property lets you separate sand from water?
  2. Salt + Water. Why does filtration fail for salt water, and which method can recover the salt?
  3. Iron Filings + Sand. How can one physical property separate iron filings from sand?

Data collection

MixturePredicted methodObserved resultEvidence
Sand + Water
Salt + Water
Iron Filings + Sand

Conclusion

Explain how physical properties help you choose a separation method.

  1. Why can a mixture be separated by physical methods?
  2. Why does filter paper separate sand from water but not salt from water?
  3. Which evidence should you use when choosing a separation method?
  4. Why might a mixture need more than one separation step?