How To Get Iron Out Of Breakfast Cereal For A Science Fair Project

Iron is an important part of the proteins your body uses to transport oxygen and regulate cell growth. Red meats, fish, poultry, lentils and beans are good sources of iron. Many processed foods, such as breakfast cereal, are also fortified with iron. You can't see the iron in your cereal, but you can use a strong magnet to separate some of the iron from the cereal. This occurs because the iron is mixed — not chemically combined — with the cereal.

Step 1

Ensure that your cereal is iron-fortified. Check the Nutrition Facts label. The cereal should provide 50 percent to 100 percent of your daily iron requirements.

Step 2

Pour 2 cups of cereal and 1 cup of water into the blender. Blend the cereal and water on low for two minutes. Then let the blended cereal sit for five minutes.

Step 3

Pour the mixture into a plastic, ceramic or glass bowl. Do not use a metal bowl.

Step 4

Stir the mixture with the magnet for at least a minute. Examine the magnet. The iron filings stuck to the magnet are from the cereal.