Mixtures can always be separated by physical means. Describe how you would separate the components in a mixture of sand and iron filings.

Short Answer

Expert verified
To separate a mixture of sand and iron filings, wrap a magnet in a piece of paper and hover it over the mixture. The iron filings will be attracted to the magnet, while sand remains in the container. Collect the iron filings on the paper-wrapped magnet and transfer them to another container. Check for separation and repeat the process if necessary.

Step by step solution

01

Gather necessary materials

First, gather the necessary materials to separate the sand and iron filings mixture, like a magnet, a piece of paper, and a container (such as a plastic or glass bowl).
02

Place the magnet in a piece of paper

Wrap the magnet with a piece of paper. This will prevent the iron filings from sticking directly to the magnet, allowing easy removal of the filings later.
03

Hover the magnet over the mixture

Hold the paper-wrapped magnet above the container with the sand and iron filings mixture. Slowly move the magnet over the surface of the mixture. The iron filings will be attracted to the magnet due to their magnetic properties, while the sand will remain in the container as it is not magnetic.
04

Collect iron filings on the paper

Continue to hover the magnet over the mixture until all iron filings are attracted and collected on the paper-wrapped magnet. This may require a few passes to ensure all iron filings are picked up.
05

Separate the iron filings from the magnet

Once all the iron filings have been collected, carefully remove the paper with the iron filings attached from the magnet. Keep in mind that the iron filings will stick to the magnet if it's not properly wrapped with the paper.
06

Transfer the iron filings into another container

Gently tap the paper over another container, allowing the iron filings to fall off the paper and collect in the new container. Make sure to keep the magnet at a safe distance from the container to avoid re-collecting the separated iron filings.
07

Verify the separation

Inspect both containers - the one with the sand and the one with the iron filings - to ensure that the components have been effectively separated by physical means. If necessary, repeat the process until complete separation is achieved. In conclusion, the components in a mixture of sand and iron filings can be separated by physical means using a magnet, where the magnet is utilized to pick up the iron filings while leaving the sand in the original container.

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