Kelly needs to separate a mixture of sand and sawdust. She tried using tweezers to pick out the pieces of sawdust, but that didn’t work. Her grandfather suggested she use water. How will water help Kelly separate the mixture?
What do you think sand and sawdust will do in water?
I think it is
c
the sand will sink in water but the sawdust will not
Not sure
Water can help Kelly separate the mixture of sand and sawdust because of their different physical properties. Sand is insoluble in water, meaning it does not dissolve or mix with water, while sawdust is lightweight and floats on the surface of water.
To separate the mixture using water, Kelly can follow these steps:
1. Prepare a container or beaker to hold the mixture.
2. Pour the mixture of sand and sawdust into the container.
3. Add water to the container, ensuring that the level of water is higher than the mixture.
4. Stir the mixture gently to allow the sawdust and sand to suspend in the water.
5. After stirring, let the mixture sit undisturbed for a short period of time. This allows the sawdust to float on the water surface while the sand settles at the bottom.
6. Carefully pour off the water, making sure not to pour out any of the suspended sawdust.
7. Collect the sawdust from the surface of the water using a fine mesh sieve, a filter paper, or by carefully skimming it off.
8. Once the sawdust is separated from the water, allow it to dry completely before further use or disposal.
9. The sand that settled at the bottom can be dried separately and used or disposed of as needed.
By using water, the sawdust can be separated from the sand as it floats on top of the water, while the sand sinks to the bottom.