Making Salt from Rock Salt

Rock salt is a MIXTURE of solid ROCK and SALT. Salt is mined in the form of ROCK SALT. Rock
is INSOLUBLE and salt is SOLUBLE.

Apparatus

Rock Salt  Evaporating Basin

Mortar and Pestle  Tripod
Beaker  Gauze
Conical flask  Heatproof Mat
Stirring Rod  Bunsen Burner
Funnel  Goggles
Filter Paper

Method
1. Crush your sample of rock salt to POWDER using a PESTLE and MORTAR.

2. Put the POWDER into a BEAKER and add 50ml of

boiled water. STIR the mixture.

3. FOLD filter paper and place in a FUNNEL on a CONICAL FLASK.

4. Carefully POUR the contents of the BEAKER into the funnel to FILTER
the mixture.

5. POUR some of the collected liquid into the EVAPORATING

BASIN and place on a TRIPOD and GAUZE over a BUNSEN
BURNER.

6. HEAT slowly until CRYSTALS start to form around the edge

of the solution. Let the rest of the water evaporate
without heating.

7. The powder left is PURE SALT.

Eye protection must be worn

during experiments!
Questions
1. Why did you crush the rock salt with a pestle and mortar?

2. What happened to the rock salt when you added the water?

3. Why was the mixture stirred in Step 2?

4. When the mixture was filtered, what was left in the filter paper?

5. Why was the salt solution heated in Step 6?

6. Lynne says “To get a purer sample of salt, you should use distilled water
not tap water”. Is she right and why?