How To Make a Mixture and a Compound from Iron and Sulfur

Here's How: 1. First form a mixture. Stir some iron filings and sulfur together to form a powder. You have just taken two elements and combined them to form a mixture. You can separate the components of the mixture by stirring the powder with a magnet (iron will stick to it) or by swirling the powder with the magnet under the container (the iron will fall toward the magnet at the bottom - this is less messy). 2. If you heat the mixture over a bunsen burner, hot plate, or stove, the mixture will start to glow. The elements will react and will form iron sulfide, which is a compound. Careful! Unlike the mixture, the formation of a compound can't be undone so easily. Use glassware that you don't mind ruining. Tips: 1. When you form a mixture, you can add components in any ratio that you want. It doesn't matter if there is more iron than sulfur, for example. 2. When you form a compound, the components react according to a set formula. If there is an excess of one or the other, it will remain after the reaction that forms the compound. For example, you may have some leftover iron or sulfur in the tube with your mixture. 2 g of sulfur with 3.5 g of iron filings will completely react.