Title

Criterion B
Aim:
Research Question:
Hypothesis:
Background:
Variables:
Materials and Set-up Diagram:
Method:
Criterion C
Data and Observations:
Conclusion:
Evaluation of the Method:
Criterion D
Glossary:
References:
Teacher’s assessment grid:
Student-friendly Clarifications of Criterion B (Grades 7 and 8)
Student-friendly Clarifications of Criterion C (Grades 7 and 8)
Student-friendly Clarifications of Criterion D (Grades 7 and 8)

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Separating a mixture of sand and salt

Criterion B

Aim:
Bi Goal, purpose, or main idea of the experiment.

The objective of this experiment is to explore accurate and efficient means of physically
separating a mixture using dissolving, filtration, and evaporation. Percentage , Percentage of
recovered salt and sand (two times percentage, you may need to remove the whole sentence))

Research Question:
Bi A question to address the effect of [independent variable] on [dependent variable]?

Is it possible to effectively separate sand and salt using a filtering, dissolving and evaporating
method?

Hypothesis:
Bii What is the effect of [independent variable] on [dependent variable]?

My comment
The mixture can be easily separated by pouring off the salty water into another container,
leaving the sand behind. To recover the salt from the mixture, the solution is boiled until
all of the water is evaporated, which leaves the salt remaining. Due to water
disappearance, the recovered mass of the sand and salt will significantly decrease compared to
the starting mass of the mixture.
If the person doing the experiment doesn’t completely evaporate the water or he didn’t pour off
the water carefully to prevent sand reaching the salt solution, then the mass of the salt and sand
will be not accurate.

Criterion:
My hypothesis is testable and I provide details about my variables using words like
“increase, decrease, no change” and I have supported it clearly using correct scientific
reasoning.

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Background:
Bi Scientific explanation/justification to understand the aim. In text-citation required.

Separating a mixture is an example of a physical change. There are several ways to separate a
mixture. In chemistry, a mixture is a material made up of two or more different substances which
are physically combined (2020). When substances form a solution while mixed with water they
are named ‘Soluble substances’. Substances that don’t form solutions with water are called
insoluble substances. Sand is an insoluble substance since it becomes a mixture when mixed with
water because you can clearly see the two are separated either suspended in the water or at the
bottom of the container (Studios). This statement is true because you can get sand out of the
water by simply filtering the water. Salt is soluble because when mixed with water, it becomes a
solution and can only be separated if the water evaporates. In a solution, the liquid is the solvent,
and the soluble chemical that is added to and dissolves in the liquid is the solute (Buddies 2012).
This is verifiable because salt does not dissolve in a solvent (water). Filtration is a method for
separating an insoluble solid from a liquid. When you filter sand and water, the sand becomes the
residue because it stays behind in the filter paper ("Separating Mixtures"). The water is called the
filtrate since it passes through the filter. Evaporation is a technique used to separate
homogeneous mixtures where there is one or more dissolved solids (Intermediate). This method
drives off the liquid components from the solid components so it would be used to separate water
and salt since it is the method utilized to divide a soluble solid from a liquid.

Variables:
Biii Includes the three types of variables, with units.

Independent Variable: Starting sand and salt mixture mass, person doing the experiment and
accuracy of filtering and evaporating method and the volume of water

Dependent Variable: Percentage of recovered salt and sand as components of salt and sand
mixture measured by dividing the mass of salt recovered once separation is done by the original
mass of each and multiplying by 100.

Controlled Variables:
Controlled Variables How Why

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 Temperature of Hot Plate I can control the temperature of
the hot plate because I can turn
the knob to different levels.
As temperature increases, the
rate of evaporation also
increases. This is due to
increasing kinetic energy of the
surface molecules which leads
them to free and become vapour.
(Lalehan 2015)

Salt Type The salt type that I used during This variable is controlled
the experiment is the same. because there are many types of
salts such as ‘Himalayan Salt’ ,
‘Sea Salt’ etc.

Materials and Set-up Diagram:

Biv Shows what you need during the investigation.

- Graduated Measuring
Cylinder
- Beaker
- Funnel
- Filter Paper
- Conical Flask
- Spatula
- Drop Pipette
- Hot Plate
- Sand
- Salt
- Wash Bottle
- 25cm3 of distilled water

Method:
Biv Step-by-step instructions about how to do the experiment.

1. The first and most important part of the experiment is to undergo safety procedures. I
need to be careful during this experiment since we are going to be dealing with a hot
plate which could burn me and sand which could potentially go into my eyes. The safety
materials I need are a lab coat and goggles (safety glasses).
2. The second step is to measure the following using a scientific balance

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 ➔ The starting mixture of sand and salt being 5 grams.
➔ The mass of the filter paper
➔ The mass of the conical flask
3. Following that, I will take the filter paper and fold it in half to a quarter creating a cone
shape which will be placed into the funnel and in the conical flask.
4. Afterwards, I will add a measure 25cm3 of distilled water from a wash bottle to a
graduated cylinder and pour it into a beaker where the sand and salt lay creating a
solution. Stirring the sand (non-soluble) and salt (soluble) I will come to find a residue of
sand since the salt will have dissolved into the water.
5. The next step is to grab a clean beaker and filter out the sand and using a drop pipette
collecting drops of water from the side of the filter paper to get every fragment of sand
out of the beaker.
6. We now have the sand separated from the saline solution (salt and water). At this point I
should be able to see the salt stuck on the edge of the beaker. I will take out the filter
paper ,containing only the sand, out of the funnel and let it dry on it’s own in case it
burns on the hot plate (another safety procedure)
7. The 7th step is to move the saline solution to the hot plate to boil and only the water will
evaporate leaving the sand in the beaker.
8. This is how I separate the sand and salt.

Criterion C

Data and Observations:

Ci Table(s), calculation(s) and graph(s).

Conclusion:
Cii Interpret and evaluate the data; and Ciii hypothesis.

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Evaluation of the Method:
Civ Explain how well the method worked during the investigation to produce reliable
data; Cv and suggestions on how to fix the problems.

Criterion D

Glossary:
Diii

Word Definition Picture

Mixture A mixture is a combination of

two or more pure substances
in which each pure substance
retains its individual chemical
properties. Mixtures can be
composed of solids, liquids,
or gases.

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Solution A solution is a homogeneous
mixture of 2 components such
that the particles can't be seen
with the naked eye.

Filter Paper Filter paper is a semi-

permeable paper barrier
placed perpendicular to a
liquid or air flow. It is used to
separate fine substances from
liquids or air.

Boil (with reference to a liquid) reach

or cause to reach the temperature
at which it bubbles and turns to
vapour.

Evaporation Evaporation is the process of

a substance in a liquid state
changing to a gaseous state
due to an increase in
temperature and/or pressure.

Solute A solute is defined as a

substance that is dissolved in
a solution. Concentration is a
measurement of the amount
of solute present in a
chemical solution, with
respect to the amount of
solvent

Solvent A solvent is the component of

a solution that is present in
the greatest amount. It is the
substance in which the solute
is dissolved. Usually, a
solvent is a liquid.

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Stirring Stirring is used to mixing liquid.
Stirring affects how quickly a
solute dissolves in a solvent,
but has no effect on how
much solute will dissolve.

Solid Particles A solid is a state of matter

characterized by particles
arranged such that their shape
and volume are relatively
stable. The constituents of a
solid tend to be packed
together much closer than the
particles in a gas or liquid.

Sodium Chloride (salt) an ionic crystalline chemical

compound consisting of equal
numbers of sodium and
chlorine atoms

Insoluble (sand) An insoluble substance is a

substance (solid) that will not
dissolve in a solvent even
after mixing

Dissolve to dissolve is to cause a solute

to pass into a solution.
Dissolving is also called
dissolution. Typically, this
involves a solid going into a
liquid phase.

Residue The material left over at the

end of a process, often the
material that is removed

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 during purification of a
substance.

Filtration The process of passing a

mixture through a device -
soluble substances pass
through the filter as a 'filtrate'
but insoluble substances or
unwanted material will stay in
the filter as a 'residue'.

Filtrate Fluid that has passed through

a filter.

Simple Distillation Separation method used to

separate a solvent from a
solution.

Saline solution Saline solution is a mixture of

salt and water. Normal saline
solution contains 0.9 percent
sodium chloride (salt).

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References:
Div

Teacher’s assessment grid:

Strand

Rubric i ii iii iv v Final

Grade

B N/A

D N/A N/A N/A

Student-friendly Clarifications of Criterion B (Grades 7 and 8)

i. describe a ii. outline a iii. describe how iv. design scientific

problem or testable to manipulate the investigations
question to be hypothesis and variables and
B tested by a explain it using describe how data
scientific scientific will be collected
experiment reasoning

RQ & Hypothesis Variables & Method

Background Method

1-2 I have stated a My hypothesis is I have stated the I have a procedure

problem as a testable. variables. written down for my
research lab.
question,
including my
variables.

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3-4 I have stated a My hypothesis is I have given brief My procedures are
problem as a testable and details about how safe.
research includes my to manipulate the I have selected the
question that variables. independent materials I will
includes my variable, and need.
variables and stated how to
connects with measure the
our topic. dependent
variable to collect
relevant data.

5-6 I have stated a My hypothesis is I have given brief My procedures are

problem and testable and I details about how safe and complete.
given brief provided details to manipulate the Someone else
details on how about my independent could probably do
my problem variables using variable, how to my lab because I
(which includes words like measure the describe how to
my variables) is “increase, dependent collect data.
connected to the decrease, no variable to collect
topic we are change” and I relevant data, and I have selected the
studying. have supported it how to manipulate materials I will
clearly using the controlled need, including
scientific variables. quantities.
reasoning.

7-8 I have provided My hypothesis is I have provided My procedures are

details on a testable and I details about how safe, complete, and
problem to provide details to manipulate the logical. Someone
investigate and about my independent else would have no
how the variables variables using variable, how to problem with my
and problem are words like measure the lab because I
connected to the “increase, dependent describe how to
topic we are decrease, no variable to collect work with the
studying. change” and I sufficient relevant variables & collect
have supported it data, and how to data.
clearly using manipulate ALL of I have selected
correct scientific the controlled every material I
reasoning. variables. need, including
quantities, & I won’t
need to ask for
anything extra.

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Student-friendly Clarifications of Criterion C (Grades 7 and 8)

i. present, ii. interpret data iii. discuss the iv. discuss the v. describe
collect, and and describe validity of a validity of the improvement
transform results using hypothesis method s or
C data scientific based on the extensions to
reasoning outcome of the the method
scientific
investigation

Results Conclusion Conclusion Evaluation Evaluation

1-2 I have I have used I have I have I have stated

presented knowledge and evaluated my evaluated my how I suggest
the data I understanding hypothesis by method by improvement
collected of science to stating if it has listing errors. to my
using tables recognize been procedures.
and graphs. patterns and supported or
draw not.
conclusions
from the data.

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3-4 I have I have used I have I have I have stated
presented knowledge & evaluated my evaluated my how I suggest
the data I understanding hypothesis by method by improvement
collected of science to stating if it has listing errors to my
using the recognize been in my limitations in
correct type patterns & draw supported or procedures my
of graph, conclusions not, based on and my lab procedures.
including from the data. I my data. work.
titles, axis have given an
labels, and account of the
correct variables.
scale.

5-6 I have I have correctly I have I have I have given

organized used evaluated my evaluated my brief details
the data I knowledge & hypothesis by method by of how I
collected understanding briefly briefly suggest
using tables of science to mentioning the considering improvement
that include recognize data to state if my to limitations
units in the patterns and my hypothesis procedures in my
proper draw has been and lab work. procedures.
place. My conclusions supported or
graph is the from the data. I not, based on
correct type, have given an my data.
including account of how
titles, axis and why the
labels, and variables are
line of best related.
fit.

7-8 I have I have correctly I have I have I have

correctly used evaluated my evaluated my provided
organized knowledge and hypothesis by method by details of how
the data I understanding considering considering I suggest
collected of science to many the strengths improvement
using tables recognize possibilities. I and to limitations
that include patterns & draw used the data limitations of in my
units in the conclusions to clearly state my procedures.
proper from the data. I if my procedures These
place. I have correctly hypothesis has and lab work. suggestions
have given an been I have are realistic &
processed account of how supported or discussed the based on
my data & why the not. I use validity and scientific
correctly & variables are scientific reliability of reasoning &

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 showed an related. reasons and my methods, research.
example. My sources to and
graph is help explain addressed its
correct. my reasons. significance.

Student-friendly Clarifications of Criterion D (Grades 7 and 8)

D iii: use of iv:

scientific acknowledging
vocabulary sources

1-2 I use the wrong I have forgotten

word several to cite some of
times. I didn’t use my sources. I
words from our used information
unit. Many from sources
science terms are without
in quotes; I didn’t summarizing
use them in my enough. I have
own words. no in-text citation
and no reference
list.

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 3-4 I occasionally use My reference list
the wrong word. or in-text citation
Words from our is missing. There
unit are used is not enough in
correctly. New text citation. I
words aren’t have a source in
explained. my reference list
that I didn’t cite in
text once.

5-6 I rarely use the My reference list

wrong science OR in-text citation
word. I use has a few errors.
words from our I forgot to cite a
unit and new few places, or
words from the have too many
research are unnecessary
defined or citations.
explained.

7-8 I have used every My reference list

science word is complete and
correctly, in my correct. My in-text
own words, and citation is
in sentences that formatted
show my correctly and I
understanding. have always cited
when I took ideas
from my sources.

Your typed and printed lab report will be assessed for the criteria above. Your teacher will
assess this using the grid below;.

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