Messin' with Mixtures
In this activity, students investigate the properties of a heterogeneous mixture, trail mix, as if it were a contaminated soil sample near a construction site. This activity shows students that heterogeneous mixtures can be separated by physical means, and that when separated, all the parts will equal the whole.
Trail mix is a great example of a heterogeneous mixtureCopyright https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Planters-Trail-Mix.jpg
Separation of mixtures based on physical means is something that engineers are involved with quite frequently. Environmental engineers may be concerned with separating oil from water in the case of an oil spill, and chemical engineers may work with separating gasoline from oil to use for fuel. Both of these examples deal with separation by physical means but engineers might also work with separation of mixtures or solutions through chemical means. Engineers also use separation of mixtures and solutions in designing water and air treatment processes, and new medicines.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Discuss properties of mixtures and solutions.
- Discuss methods for separating mixtures and solutions into their original components.
- Describe several engineering applications for mixtures and solutions.