Laboratory Activity # 2

SEPARATING MIXTURES USING

PBL STRATEGY

Overview
This activity synthesizes the need for students to understand on how to separate mixtures
and to conceptualize how to design an effective and well -ordered laboratory procedures to
achieve a specific result. This will help you synthesize previous learning about mixtures and
solutions by applying your understanding of these concepts to a novel task where you
previously know that dry substances are mixed together and must then be separated.

Learning Objectives: At the end of two hours, the students are expected to:
a) describe what are mixtures;
b) separate mixtures considering the physical characteristics of matter such as particle
size;
c) decide what filter materials to be used which are available also in the home to
separate mixtures.
d) design and implement a procedure that can separate out the materials given in the
activity.
e) show documentation of the activity (materials used ,actual performance of the
activity ,products)

Materials:
 Gravel
 Diatomaceous earth/dry fine soil/look an alternative
 Sodium chloride

Developmental questions:

1. What is a mixture?
A combination of two or more substances but not chemically combined, mixtures
can be physically separated. A mixture is had two types: Homogeneous and
Heterogeneous.

2. How do you separate mixtures? Base your answer on this given activity.
 There are two major types of separation done in the activity:

A. Filtration:
Separation of Gravel from Soil and Salt:
After the materials mixed and thoroughly stirred with water, using
a strainer the gravel left behind and the mixed soil and salt in the
water easily pass through.

Separation of Soil from Salt:

In order to separate the soil from salt, using a surgical mask, cotton
and silk screen arranged and put into the funnel serve as a filter, the clear
salt water flows and the soil filtered.

B. Evaporation
The final step in separating salt from the water is through evaporation.
The salt water was put in a pot and boiled up in a high temperature so
it will evaporate faster, afterwards when all water evaporated the salt
remain as residue.

3. Why is particle size important?

Particle’s size is very important in the process of filtration/Sieving. A particle
size must match to the size of the mesh where it will be able to filtered out

4. Did the mesh filter allow you to separate the diatomaceous earth/fine
soil?
In my experiment, I customize a homemade filter using Surgical mask, cotton
and silk screen. Through this material I was able to separate the fine soil from
the salt water. I can conclude it because the water becomes clear and the
soil/dirt remain in my filter.

5. Why is the order of filtering important?

In the process of filtering, the first thing that we need to consider is the size
particles and size of the hole of filter. Thus, to successfully separate a particle
from the other, there must be a certain order/sequence. Filtering must begin
with a larger particle that matches to the size of filter-hole then follows the
smaller - smallest follows that able the fine particles pass through.

6. Document your activity by posting photos on the steps you did in this
activity.

(See in the next page)

 ADDITIONAL:
Documentation:
 Water (2 cups/ 400 ml)
MAIN MATERIALS  Filters: Strainer
Silk Screen
Surgical Mask
Cotton
 Empty Bottles
 Scissors
 Saucers
 Pot
 Spoon
75 grams 83 grams
After 104 grams
 Lighter
 Stove
 Weighing Scale

Step 1: Prepare all the needed materials. Step 2: Put the soil, salt and gravel all together in the bottle and mix.

Step 3: Add water and mix thoroughly Step 4: Prepare the strainer on a pot, then pour the mixed materials.
until the soil and salt mix with water. You can add some water to clean the bottle and remove dirt/residual
soil that sticks in the gravel. Then, set aside the gravel.
Step 5: Prepare the materials for soil and salt water
separation. Using the using the upper body of the
bottle that serves as a funnel, arranged the filter
materials by beginning the mask at the bottom,
followed by a cotton and silk screen on top. Then
pour the salted water with soil gradually.
Step 6: Gradually continue pouring the salted water with soil
in the filter and wait till a clear water flow at the bottom. In
this process may take longer time, approximately 15-20
minutes (depends on the amount of water).

Step 8: Prepare the pot in the stove then pour the

Step 7: After all liquid has been drained, salted water and boiled in a high heat. Until all the
remove the filters and extract the soil from it. water evaporates and leaves the crispy salt residue.
The extraction is quite difficult because some of Then scrape it off from the pot.
the fine particles sticks/stained to the silk
screen, cotton and mask. Thus, amount of
particles decrease.

Before After
 BEFORE AND AFTER

75 grams 83 grams 104 grams

BEFORE

AFTER

27 grams 30 grams 104 grams

The amount of particle

The amount of particles remains
decreased

Considering that the experiment was conducted at home and the quality of
customized materials is not advance, it cannot be denied that some of its particles
might decrease (ex. soil & salt). But at least, the idea on separating a mixture was
successfully done. Which this experiment and other ways of mixtures-separation
was also the foundation and basis of todays advance technology from what was
already conducted or discover long before by several scientists.