demonstrations:iron_in_cereal
Iron in Cereal
Materials: ★☆☆ Easy to get from supermarket or hardware store
Difficulty: ★☆☆ Can be easily done by most teenagers
Safety: ★☆☆ Minimal safety procedures required
Categories: Elements and Periodic Table, Magnetism
Alternative titles: How Much Iron is in Cereal
Summary
Blend cereal with water to make a slurry, then pass it by a strong magnet to collect supplemental iron particles.
Procedure
- Blend cereal and water until completely smooth.
- Pour the slurry into a zip-lock bag and seal.
- Run a strong magnet over the side of the bag and see the pieces of iron collect.
Links
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
Variations
- 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.
Safety Precautions
- 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.
Questions to Consider
- 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).