Magnets and Sugar – Heterogeneous Mixture

While making salt and water a mixture to float eggs in was fun, it can be another experiment to separate the salt from the water. This can be done using a process of evaporation and distillation.The mixture is a homogenous one and requires considerable effort to separate it in to its components.

In this experiment here we look at a more heterogeneous mixture.The components of the mixture are sugar and iron filings. Half cup of granular sugar mixed with half cup of iron filings make a good mixture that would seem difficult to separate if one was not aware of the unique property of iron.

Iron is attracted by magnets.  If we stir a magnet into the cup that holds this mixture of sugar and iron filings all the iron will begin to stick to the magnet and will be easily separated from the sugar. In this science experiment we use the principle of magnetism to separate the mixture.

In general the homogeneous mixtures are more difficult to separate and require more effort than a heterogeneous mixture does. Come up with a list of different mixtures and classify them as either homogeneous or heterogeneous. Then add details on how you can separate the mixture into its individual components.