All Mixed Up!

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In this activity, learners separate a mixture of pebbles, salt crystals, and wood pieces. They add water and pour the mixture through a strainer. The pebbles are left in the beaker, the wood is caught by the strainer, and the salt stays dissolved in the water. The main idea is that different physical properties of the components can be used for separating them, and that evaporation can be used to isolate a solute from a solution. This activity is currently used in the Nature of Matter Unit in OMSI's Chemistry Lab. Cost estimates are per 100 learners.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Learning Time:
Under 5 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 4 - adult
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • 8 cups salt
  • 2 cups pebbles
  • 2 cups wood pieces (broken toothpicks, craft sticks)
  • large plastic container with lid
  • 1T measuring spoon
  • (2) 400-mL plastic beakers
  • (2) 1-L plastic beaker
  • small strainer (fits inside 400-mL beaker)
  • (2) plastic petri dishes with lids

Keywords

Subjects

  • Physical Sciences
    • Chemistry
      • Solutions
    • States of Matter
      • Solids
      • Liquids
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
      • Volume and Density

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • read
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

Funding Source:

  • National Science Foundation, 9355628