Home Explorations: Magnets/Finding Hidden Iron
Overview
In this exploration students use a magnet to find iron particles in sand. The iron particles will be used in other experiments in this series.
Materials Required
• Magnet
• Plastic bag
• Sand
• Small container
Directions (Download print version at HOME EXPLORATIONS- HIDDEN IRON (PRINT) PDF.PDF )
1. Place a magnet in a plastic bag
2. Move the plastic covered magnet through sand. The magnet inside the plastic bag
may need to be moved through the sand several times.
3. Examine the surface of the plastic covered magnet.
4. Black iron particles will be sticking to the ends of the magnet.
5. Place the bag in a container and remove the magnet.
6. Shake the bag so all the iron now drops into the container.
7. The iron will be used in further experiments in this series.
Extensions
Iron is one of the most common minerals in the earth’s crust. It is often found bound to other elements like oxygen, sulfur, or chlorine and can take many forms. Common in rocks like granite, it becomes eroded over time and then is present in sand. Iron is magnetic—that is, it is attracted to a magnetic field. Only iron, nickel and cobalt are strongly magnetic.
Facts about iron: https://www.livescience.com/29263-iron.html
Video of Experiment
If you have other questions about this exploration, contact mjaeger@eou.edu
Printed Instructions
Download this pdf: HOME EXPLORATIONS- HIDDEN IRON IV.PDF