Describe the best method for separating a mixture of sand, salt, and steel shavings by placing the steps below in the correct order. Heat the mixture to evaporate the water. Pour the mixture through a filter to separate the sand. Pass a magnet over the mixture to remove the steel. Add water to the sand/salt mixture and stir to dissolve the salt.

A mixture is a substance that contains two or more components which are mixed together but they are not chemically combined to each other.

For example, sand, salt and steel shavings in water is a mixture.

So, in order to separate its components we can do the following.

Step 1: Pass a magnet over the mixture to remove the steel. As this will remove steel from mixture.

After that, adding water will make a solution in which sand and salt are present.

Step 2: Add water to the sand/salt mixture and stir to dissolve the salt.

Step 3: Pour the mixture through a filter to separate the sand.

Step 4: Heat the mixture to evaporate the water.

Thus, we can conclude that correct order to separate the given mixture is 3, 4, 2, 1.

The following is the correct order in which the mixture of sand, salt and steel can be separated:

1. Pass a magnet over the mixture to remove the steel.

2. Add the water to the sand/salt mixture and stir to dissolve the salt.

3. Heat the mixture to evaporate the water.

4. Then finally pour the mixture through a filter to separate the sand.