Separation of Salt and Sand Mixture (In Person)

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VIDEO LINKS:

Lab Experiments (Write protocols and perform experiments based on these):

  1. Making Salt and Sand Mixture
  2. Separating Salt from Sand
  3. Recovering Salt and Sand

Data analysis and calculations (Use these if you need help with your data and calculations)

  1. Percent Composition

The prelab must include Experimental Protocol, Chemical Table and Equipment Table.

The lab report requires all sections (including prelab sections) to be completed in one document.

Experimental Protocol

(Analysis) Watch the experiment videos.  Take notes on the protocol.  Stop the video and re-watch as necessary to acquire the details of the procedure.  Write out the protocol for each part of the experiment.  (It can be written in sequential steps.  Complete sentences are not necessary.)  This is the protocol you will follow, so be detailed.

Chemical Table

(Representation) Prepare your chemical table including the materials you will use in the experiment.  Here is a general template that you may use.
Chemical Name Chemical Formula Molar Mass (g/mol) Hazards reference PPE
Sodium Chloride NaCl 58.5 Skin irritation https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/21105.htm  
           
           
           
           

Equipment Table

(Analysis) Identify the equipment (type AND size) needed for the experiment and include the name and an image of each.  Be sure to describe the equipment, how to use it, and why it is suitable for this use.
Equipment Name Equipment Picture Intended Purpose

Data Collection

(Acquiring competencies) Following your detailed protocol based on the videos, perform all the experiments. Record your observations and take pictures of your key steps in the process.  Your observations and images need to be incorporated in your data section and this section should be as detailed as possible as you will use this information to complete your discussion.

Data Processing

1. (Representation) Using your collected measurements, fill out the table below.
Substance Before separation (g) After separation (g) Percent recovery (after/before×100%) (%) Cause for change in mass
Salt (NaCl)
Sand (SiO2)
Total
2. (Manipulation) Calculate the percent composition of the mixture (% NaCl and % sand) using the original amounts of each substance. Show your stepwise calculation with the appropriate units. 3. (Manipulation) Calculate the percent composition of the mixture (% NaCl and % sand) using the recovered amounts of each substance. Show your stepwise calculation with the appropriate units. 4. (Manipulation) Using the total mass of the mixture before and after the separation, calculate the % recovery. Show your stepwise calculation with the appropriate units. 5. (Assumptions and Analysis) Fill in the following table using the observations and data from your experiments.
Assumptions made Testing the assumption If assumptions are wrong ...
The distilled water is pure Evaporate it and check for residue The density would change depending on the density of the contaminant
Our balance is accurate

Discussion

Write a minimum one-page (12 font, single spaced) discussion on the experiment conducted this week. Address at least one question in each category as fully as possible integrating the collected data, providing explanations for the observed trends, and evaluating whether your original assumptions about the experiment were validated by the results. The assignment will be graded on completeness, clarity of the explanations and the meaningful integration of the collected and calculated data. Correct grammar and appropriate format for the chemical formulae and chemical reactions is expected. You may use the outline included at the end of this document on how to build your essay to address each category.
  1. (Existing knowledge, research, and views) Describe the properties of the sand and sodium chloride that were used in the separation process.
  2. (Analysis) Classify the mixtures created at each step in the process of separating the sand, and salt mixture as homogeneous or heterogeneous.
  3. (Acquiring competencies) Describe the folding of the filter paper. Provide at least one argument why the folded filter paper would work better than the unfolded one.
  4. (Acquiring competencies) Describe the main steps in a filtration.
  5. (Acquiring competencies) Provide at least one argument for washing the solids during filtration.
  6. (Analysis) Predict the expected % recovery for your sand and salt. Provide a supported argument for your choice.
  7. (Assumptions) Provide at least one assumption that must be true to explain the discrepancy between the original and recovered masses.
  8. (Analysis) Compare the % recovery from your experiment with the expected % recovery.
  9. (Assumptions) Provide at least one assumption that must be true to explain the discrepancy between the two values.
  10. (Analysis) Compare the % recovery values from your group. Comment on the accuracy and precision of the experiment.
  11. (Existing knowledge, research, and views) Describe a large-scale application of separations that has an impact on our everyday lives.

Recommended Discussion Outline:

The mixtures we studied in this experiment are … and can be classified as ... Separation techniques are dependent on the properties of and states of matter. Filtration requires … In this experiment we assumed .... In this experiment, we recovered …% of salt and … % of sand. The recovery values are (precise or accurate?), because ... An application of separation that I found fascinating is … and it works like this: …. The purpose of the experiment was … By performing this experiment, I learned ...