Seperating Salt and Sand

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Ailsa Cottam 28.10.13 Separating salt and sand. Introduction In this experiment students were asked to separate a mixture of salt and sand, illustrating the fundamental means of separating a mixture of an insoluble material from one which is soluble. Aims/Hypothesis Students were asked to perform an experiment into the separation of a mixture of salt and sand, identifying the calculations of both sand and salt once going through the separation process. The separation techniques that were used in the lab were Evaporation and Filtration. Materials Protective Glasses | Beaker (250ml) | Stirring rod | Filter funnel | Filter paper | Evaporating basin | Bunsen burner | Heat resistant mat | Tripod | Gauze | Sand | Salt | Matches | | | Method After collecting all the materials needed for the experiment, the students were asked to weigh a mixture of sand and salt (5g) into a 250ml beaker. They also weighed the combined weight of the beaker and salt and sand mixture. They then poured 50ml of distilled water into the beaker, making sure to stir well with a stirring rod to dissolve all of the salt. They then weighed a piece of filter paper, folded it into a cone shape that would fit into the filter funnel, pressing it onto the inner walls of the funnel to make sure no sand would be lost in error. (See diagram below) Water was poured through the filter funnel. The liquid that filtered through was collected in the evaporating basin. The sand that was collected in the filter paper was taken to be dried in the drying oven. (See diagram below) The evaporating basin was put on top of a lit Bunsen burner for approx 5 minutes. It remained there until they could see most of the water had evaporated. Until the salt began to spit and crackle. After most of the water had evaporated, the basin was taken off the heat, labelled and left to

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