Separating Science – Recycling (Science Box Experiment 6)

As part of CoCoMAD, Royal Society of Chemistry have funded science boxes which are being distributed to local school children - however - the experiments are available online for anyone to take part!

Below you’ll find the experiment introductions, equipment list, method, questions to explore and - very important - health and safety information.

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Introduction

Recycling companies use materials properties to easily separate large amount of mixed recycling (think of what is in your recycling bin). This works because different types of material have different materials properties (such as density, magnetic properties, conductivity).

This activity involves investigating the three types of materials that are commonly recycled (glass, metal and plastic) and working out how to separate a mixed bag of recycling by using their different properties.

Equipment List

3 x small bowls
1 x small sieve
1 x larger bowl or large measuring jug
1 x magnet (e.g. fridge magnet)
10 x metallic bottle tops (they have to be magnetic)
10 x glass marbles
10 x plastic bottle tops
Water

What to do

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE READ THE HEALTH AND SAFETY SECTION BEFORE CARRYING OUT THE ACTIVITY – THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY, FRIENDS OF COTTERIDGE PARK AND THE DEVELOPER DO NOT ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY

Take one glass marble, one metal bottle top and one plastic bottle top and put them in a bowl.
Get your magnet and see which ones stick to the magnet - write down your observations.
Next put the glass marble, the metal bottle top and plastic bottle top in a bowl of water and see what happens - write down your observations.
Put all of the marbles and bottle tops in a big bowl (your mixed recycling) and get a timer and three smaller bowls ready - if you don’t have a stop watch there is probably a stopwatch function on your mobile phone.
Start the timer and see how fast you can separate the mixed recycling using only a magnet, water and a sieve.
When you have finished separating the mixed recycling stop the timer and one small bowl should contain ten glass marbles, another bowl contain ten metal bottle tops and the other bowl should contain ten plastic bottle tops.

Things to investigate

Use the magnet to see if this separation method will work for all metals by testing different metals around your home.

Health and Safety
(remember to always use common sense)

Risk(s) & Precaution(s)

Cuts (due to sharp edges on cricked glass marbles, metal bottle caps
Use smooth glass marbles and check none are broken (if broken ones are found dispose of immediately).
Metal bottle tops are used ensure there are no sharp edges
Slips on spilled water
Set the experiment up so that the sections of the activity that involve water are done somewhere that will contain any spillage (e.g. in a tray or sink)

Where can I learn more?

‘Rethink, Reuse, Recycle’ activity sheet (Henry Royce Institute): https://www.royce.ac.uk/outreach/outreach-learning-resources-for-teachers-and-pupils/
Physical Properties of Materials: https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/community/collection/20849/physical-properties-materials
Discover Materials website (under development): http://www.discovermaterials.uk/
Separating Materials (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F3W2LBs4F0&t=10s

Feedback

We really hope you enjoy the experiments and would love your feedback on the activities and on the science activities and talks at Virtual CoCoMAD (4th July).

To send feedback please use the QR code or the link below to get to the feedback form which will probably take about five minutes to complete. If you do you will be invited to leave your email address and you will be entered into a draw to win a pack of RSC Periodic Table Top Trumps.