Popcorn Lab Results

Introduction
Part 1:
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the quantity of water in several different types of popcorn. Determining the amount of water in the product will determine the likelihood of it popping. More water in a piece of popcorn increases the amount of pressure buildup when it is heated. With the data it will be determined if more expensive popcorn equates to a better, more reliable popcorn.
Part 2:
The purpose of this experiment was to create a method of separating a mixture of popcorn, sand, salt, and iron filings. When separated the individual parts were to be divided into their respective percentage composition.
Experimental
Part 1:
Three kernels of Orville Redenbacher brand popcorn were weighed individually.
It was then filled with the mixture and weighed. Subtracting final weight from initial provided the initial weight of the mixture. It was strained to separate the popcorn. The popcorn was put into the original beaker and weighed. Its weight was subtracted from the original weight of the mixture and divided by total weight to produce its percentage. The iron filings were removed with a magnet. They were then placed into the original beaker and weighed. Dividing it by the original weight provided the percentage. The salt/sand mixture was mixed with water and strained into a separate beaker that was weighed previously. The salt water was heated until all the water evaporated. It was then weighed and the weight of the beaker was subtracted from the weight of the beaker with the dried salt to determine the weight of the salt. That measurement was then divided by the original weight of the mixture to determine its percentage. The wet sand mixture was placed in a separate beaker, weighed previously, and heated to evaporate the water. When dry and cool the beaker was weighed. The weight of the beaker was subtracted from the weight of the beaker and sand. The result was then divided by the original weight of the mixture to determine the
Therefore we were able to separate the parts with simple methods. Separating the largest part of the mixture with a strainer was the easiest of the procedures. The iron filings are magnetic so using a magnet, with several passes, produced all the filings. Salt is water soluble, so mixing it with water and using a filter to strain the salt water from the larger sand particles was preferred. The method used by group 1 produced the results closest to the original weight. The method used was the most precise as compared to all other instances. The results over all groups were either over or under initial weight. To receive closer measurements a better salt wash to separate salt from sand would give more accurate results. Also a better straining method that doesn’t absorb some of the salt solution and trap sand would give more exact measurements of the individual components of the