Mixture of iron filings, chalk powder and common salt can be separated by using magnet first. A horse-shoe magnet is moved on the surface of the mixture. The iron filings are attracted by the magnet, they cling to the poles of the magnet and get separated. This process is repeated a number of times till complete separation of iron filings occur leaving behind mixture of chalk powder and common salt. The mixture of chalk powder and common salt is then dissolved in water and then filtered with the help of filter paper. Chalk powder remains as residue on the filter paper while common salt solution is obtained as filtrate .The filtrate is then evaporated to get crystals of common salt.