Iron in Cereal

Blend cereal with water to make a slurry, then pass it by a strong magnet to collect supplemental iron particles.

1. Blend cereal and water until completely smooth.
2. Pour the slurry into a zip-lock bag and seal.
3. Run a strong magnet over the side of the bag and see the pieces of iron collect.

How to extract iron from cereal - BBC Science Focus Magazine:

Found IRON in my cereal!! EASY KIDS SCIENCE - WhizKidScience:

📄 Mag-nificent Breakfast Cereal - Science Buddies: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/BioChem_p027/biotechnology-techniques/iron-in-breakfast-cereal

• Weigh pellets: transfer dried iron to weighing paper and measure mass.
• Test other iron-fortified foods (enriched bread, infant cereal, formula, energy bars, vitamin tablets).
• Compare magnets (bar, neodymium, horseshoe) or magnet placement to see effects on capture.
• Try tap vs. distilled water to check if minerals affect slurry flow or collection.
• Compare iron with the stated amount on the label of the cereal.

• Use caution with strong magnets—keep away from electronics, credit cards, and medical implants.
• Supervise blender use; keep hands and utensils out while running.
• Do not eat anything that has been in a lab or in contact with lab equipment.

• Why does a magnet pull iron from cereal?
• Why use distilled water? (It reduces dissolved minerals that might change slurry thickness or leave residues that obscure the iron).
• If no pellet appears, what troubleshooting steps could you try? (Use a stronger magnet, slow the flow over the magnet area, blend more thoroughly, or repeat passes with additional rinse water).