Types of Mixtures

Lab Brief #9

🎯 Your mission

Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).

⚡ The twist

Color changes mean atoms are rearranging — even if you can't see them.

What you'll learn

Mixtures can be homogeneous (uniform, like salt water) or heterogeneous (non-uniform, like trail mix). Colloids like milk appear uniform but contain tiny suspended particles.

Key words

molecule
Two or more atoms joined together to form a tiny particle.
atom
The tiny building block that makes up everything around us.

Make a hypothesis first

Before you mix: what color do you think it'll turn?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Get ready

🧰 What you need

salt

⚠️ Safety first

Keep strong magnets away from phones, bank cards and anyone with a pacemaker.
Mop up spills straight away so nobody slips, and keep liquids away from sockets.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Separate a mixture of sand, salt, and iron filings using a magnet, water, and a filter. Record each step and what you separated.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Compare the before and after states.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Write your conclusion: did the results match your hypothesis? What would you change next time?

Question 1 of 2

Which method separates mixtures based on boiling points?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 2

How is a compound different from a mixture?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🧪 If you could remove all the empty space from atoms, the entire human race would fit in a sugar cube.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 2 right.

Next: Separating Mixtures All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: This is happening in your kitchen right now — every time food cooks.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Find one ingredient in a snack and look up what it does.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “What's something we cook that mixes things together this way?”

🧊Share card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

Types of Mixtures

Next Smart Experiment

Share this experiment

Types of Mixtures

Done with science? Try something else

Your Cart (0)