Physical Means of Separating Mixtures

Using Magnets
Some mixtures are made up of materials that can be separated using magnets. Suppose you have a mixture made up of pebbles and iron nails. One easy way of separating the nails from the pebbles is through the use of a magnet. To do this, the magnet should be placed near the mixture. The magnetic iron nails will cling to the magnet, separating them from the pebbles.

In a construction site, nails may accidentally mix with sand. In this mixture, a magnet can pick up the nails. Magnets can easily separate iron nails and other materials such as pins that mix with sand. When a strong magnet is stirred in other mixtures, say iron and sulfur powder, the iron particles will stick to the magnet and be separated from the mixture.