Investigating Mixtures

Combinations of substances are all around us, even in our meals! For example, your teacher might have a bowl of cereal and milk and a cup of coffee for breakfast. But, what if your teacher decides he doesn't want his cereal with milk and his coffee with hot water anymore? Can he separate these combinations back into their original substances without changing their properties (what they look, feel, taste like)?  Why can some combinations of substances be successfully separated and others cannot? Let’s engage in a few investigations to find out!