Separating iron filings from sand

Last updated: 15/11/2023
Contributor: Michelle Heelis
Separating iron filings from sand
Main Subject
Key stage
Category
Matter: Separating mixtures
Inside
Includes answers
Resource type
Student activity
Working scientifically
Experimental skills

A practical activity to separate a mixture of sand and iron filings, perfect for KS3 students. The challenge is to work out the percentage of the mass of the mixture that was made up of iron filings, giving the opportunity to practise maths skills.

Students are asked to describe how they worked out the mass of iron filings and then to summarise it as an equation or number sentence. 

The resource includes clear instructions for students so that they can carry out the practical.

There is a record sheet for students to record their results into as well as questions to get them to think about how the experiment could be improved.

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5

28/05/2020

5

28/05/2020