What are ways to separate poppy seeds, salt, sand, and iron fillings?

Answer by  SomeoneElse (32)

Use a magnet to remove the iron. Pass the mixture through a sieve that will filter the poppy seeds, but allow the sand and salt through. Add water to the salt/sand mixture to dissolve the salt. Drain the water; when it evaporates, the salt will remain. They are now separated.

Answer by  DrHarris (508)

First, obtain the iron fillings using a magnet. Then, mix the remaining mixture with hot water and run through a coffee filter. This will separate the sand and seeds from the salt water (you can then evaporate the water to recover the salt). Then, use a sieve to separate the sand from the larger poppy seeds.

Answer by  ChemDoc (154)

Iron can be extracted with a magnet. Next add water to the remaining mixture. Decant through a filter; leave behind sand, filter out seeds, evaporate the water to recover salt.

Answer by  willard (874)

Poppy seeds float, so they can be separated by dumping the mixture in water. Salt dissolves in water, so take the water and boil it away to separate the salt. Sand and iron sink, but iron is magnetic, so separate the iron from the sand with a magnet.

Answer by  ScottHorn (232)

This mixture can be dissolved in water. The poppy seeds will float and can be skimmed off. The iron filings can be removed with a magnest. The sand can be removed by passing through a coffee filter, and the salt can then be removed by evaporating the water.

Answer by  scotttherobot (45)

To separate these, first use a magnet to remove the iron filings. Next, dissolve the salt using water. During this step, the poppy seeds will float to the surface. Skim them off. The sand will remain at the bottom. Using filter paper, remove the sand. Evaporate the water. You are left with Salt, Seeds, Sand, and Filings.

Answer by  Vivi55 (287)

First, run a magnet over the mix to pull out the iron fillings. Then add the rest to water. The seeds will float; they can be scooped off and dried. The salt will dissolve; the water can be poured off and left to dry to recover the salt. The sand can then be dumped out and left to dry.